25.03.2025 00:50
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced that necessary actions have been initiated regarding the insults directed at President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, his late mother, and his family following the demonstration in Saraçhane. Yerlikaya stated, "Our police have apprehended and detained 43 provocateurs."
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A group gathered in Saraçhane to protest the arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu as part of the 'corruption' investigation against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, wanting to march to Taksim over the Bozdoğan Aqueduct.
CLASHES BETWEEN PROTESTERS AND POLICE Protesters threw stones, torches, bottles, and flammable materials at the police teams taking security measures. There were occasional clashes between the group wanting to march and the police teams.
POLICE INTERVENED WITH TEARGAS The police teams warned the protesters to disperse. The police intervened with tear gas against the group that did not heed the warnings.
INSULTS AGAINST PRESIDENT ERDOĞAN AND HIS FAMILY Meanwhile, it was observed that some protesters repeatedly insulted President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, his late mother, and his family in unison.
MINISTER YERLİKAYA: I CONDEMN THE DESPICABLE INSULTS Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya made a statement following the incident. In a statement he made on his social media account, Yerlikaya said, "I condemn the despicable insults directed at our esteemed President, his late mother, and his family after the demonstration that took place in Saraçhane this evening. What has been done is a despicable attack that does not align with our national and spiritual values. Such indecencies will never be tolerated. Our security forces have immediately initiated the necessary procedures."
"43 PROVOCATEURS DETAINED" In a later statement regarding the issue, Yerlikaya said, "Our police have captured and detained 43 provocateurs. Efforts to capture other suspects are ongoing."
ALTUN: THE ACCOUNT FOR THESE DESPICABLE INSULTS WILL DEFINITELY BE ASKED Another reaction came from Fahrettin Altun, the President's Director of Communications. In a statement he made on his social media account, Altun noted: "I strongly condemn the insults directed at our esteemed President, his late mother who has passed away, and his family by a group of ignorant immoral individuals during the protest demonstrations in Istanbul. The account for these despicable insults, which have no justification, will definitely be asked. We know very well who are the ones encouraging these dishonorable insults and what they are serving. We warn those cowardly individuals and groups who hide behind a group of shameless people, insulting the sacred values of the Turkish nation and our esteemed President, who has been elected by the will of the Turkish nation and works day and night for our country: Do not play with the patience of the nation! Do not let them experience these disgraceful acts that they will be ashamed of tomorrow by inciting the youth! Do not encourage violence, immorality, and shamelessness. Put an end to these disgraceful acts!"
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