An urgent security warning was issued to British tourists in Turkey after huge protests outbreak after the arrest of President Erdogan's most important political rival.
On Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned travelers about the current demonstrations in Istanbul and other Turkish cities, who saw Oproer police collide with demonstrators on the street.
The travel authority warned that 'demonstrations can become violent. The reaction of the police included the use of tear gas and water cannons. '
In response to the escalation in tensions, the foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has recommended British tourists who are currently in the country or visits in the coming days to check local media, plan ahead and to avoid crowds and demonstrations.
The FCDO strongly advises all British holidaymakers in Turkey to avoid all the demonstrations and to leave the area when one develops. Local transport routes can be disturbed. '
The government body also warns: “FCDO advises against all journeys within 10 km from the border between Turkey-Syria.”
Demonstrations began to crack in the Holiday Hotspot after the Turkish opposition politician, Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul and one of the most important political rivals of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was imprisoned after he was arrested for corruption last week.
He had to be formally nominated as the Republican People's Party (CHP) 2028 Presidential nominee in a vote on Sunday.
On Monday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned travelers about the current demonstrations in Istanbul and other Turkish cities
The arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul and one of the most important political rivals of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and more than 100 other people have fueled some of the greatest protests in Turkey for decades in Turkey
People shout slogans alongside Anti Riot Police Officers during a protest after the mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested and sent to prison, in Istanbul, Turkey, Monday 24 March
Speaking after a cabinet meeting in Ankara, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the CHP should stop 'provocative' citizens
The arrest of Imamoglu, 54, and more than 100 other people have fueled some of the greatest protests in Turkey for decades.
But the demonstrations soon became violent with images with collisions between demonstrators and riot police before crowds swarmed through the city after the police were left overwhelmed by the scale of the demonstration.
Despite the efforts of the government of Erdogan to ban the meetings and the use of water cannons, they did not succeed in the demonstrators who have taken to the streets for more than five nights in a row.
Since then, the president has mentioned the protests a “movement of violence” and promised that the most important opposition party will be held responsible for injured police officers and damage to property.
Speaking after a cabinet meeting in Ankara, Erdogan said that the CHP should stop 'provocative' citizens.
“As a nation, we with surprise followed the events that emerged after the call of the most important opposition leader to take to the streets after a corruption operation established in Istanbul in a movement of violence,” said the 71-year-old president.
'The most important opposition is responsible for our (injured) police officers, the broken windows of our retailers and the damaged public property. They are held responsible for all this, politics in parliament and legally by the judiciary. '
Previously, Minister of the Interior Ali Yerlikaya accused some protesters of 'terrorizing' the streets and threatening national security.
Demonstrations began to break out in the Holiday Hotspot after Imamoglu was imprisoned after he was arrested last week for accusation of corruption
Despite the efforts of the government of Erdogan to ban the meetings and the use of water cannons, they did not succeed in the protesters who have lost the street on the street for more than five nights in a row
People participate in a protest against the arrest of the mayor of Istanbul Ekrem Imamoglu as part of a corruption investigation, in Istanbul, Turkey, March 24
Turkish riot police hold a demonstrator during a protest against the detention of the mayor of Istanbul Ekrem Imamoglu in Ankara, Turkey, March 24, 2025
The mayor of Istanbul Ekrem Imamoglu, a member of the Republican People Party (CHP) of the opposition and the most important challenger in the next presidential election, was imprisoned for corruption allegations
He said that 1,133 people were held during five days of protests and that 123 police officers were injured.
On Sunday, Imamoglu was formally arrested and accused of 'setting up and managing a criminal organization, taking bribes, extortion, the illegal recording of personal data and rigging a tender'.
He will stay in custody until his process.
According to the Domestic Ministry of Turkey, he is also suspended from his democratically chosen position as mayor.
A challenging Imamoglu went to social media to criticize his arrest as a 'black spot on our democracy' and claims that Turkey has 'had enough' from Erdogan.
The arrest of Imamoglu does not prevent his candidacy and election as president, but if he is convicted of one of the charges against him, he will not be able to run.
The popular politician defeated the ruling AKP party to win the mayor elections of Istanbul in 2019.
This was praised at the time as a historical result because the party of Erdogan had checked the city of 16 million for a quarter of a century.
Fireworks thrown by protesters explode next to the riot police during a protest after the mayor of Istanbul Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested and sent to prison
The arrest has led to the largest wave of demonstrations in the country since the Gezi Park 2013 protests
People shout slogans alongside anti -riot police officers during a protest in Istanbul
About 1,133 people were held during five days of protests and 123 police officers were injured
The party insisted on making the municipal elections in the city too invalid, which claimed that irregularities resulted in a repeat of the elections that imamoglu won comfortably a few months later.
After local elections last year, the mayor retained his chair, during which his party made a significant profit against the Erdogan party.
CHP chairman Ozgur Ozel told reporters in Istanbul on Thursday, after the arrests, that Erdogan wandered with the arrests of democracy.
'Democracy was a train, and Tayyip Erdogan only got it, as long as it suited him. Now he got off that train and joined the ranks of the coup plotters, “he said.
Erdogan, a populist with more and more authoritarian tendencies, has led Turkey as Prime Minister or President for more than 20 years.
He is now the longest serving leader in the history of the Turkish Republic.
His current term runs until 2028, but he has indicated that he would like to serve longer, perhaps feasible with the support of a friendly parliament.
But the support for the president among voters is decreasing and remains particularly low in Istanbul.
