Thousands demonstrate in Istanbul against Turkish government

Thousands took to the streets of Istanbul yesterday to protest against the government over a corruption scandal that has led to multiple arrests and exposed a rift between prime minister Tayyip Erdogan and an influential US-based Muslim cleric.

Twenty-four people, including the sons of two ministers and the head of state-owned Halkbank, have been formally charged in connection with the corruption inquiry that Erdogan has called a “dirty operation” to undermine his rule.

In response, Mr Erdogan has sacked or moved to different posts about 70 police officers, including the powerful head of Istanbul’s force, in a widening crackdown on the force that launched the investigation.

Mr Erdogan drew thousands of cheering supporters when he toured the north of the country yesterday. But in Istanbul, anti-government demonstrators flooded into Kadikoy Square, where a protest against government urbanisation plans had been due to take place, before they were largely dispersed.

As in the summer protests, Mr Erdogan has pointed to foreign hands in the crisis: “They are setting wicked and dark traps in our country, using their local pawns to disrupt Turkey’s unity and integrity.”

The economy minister and interior minister, whose sons were among the 16 arrested on Saturday, echoed Mr Erdogan yesterday, saying via Twitter and the media that the allegations were part of a “big trap”.

Growing rift
The crisis is seen as the result of a growing rift between Mr Erdogan and his former ally Fethullah Gulen, a cleric with quiet influence in the police and the judiciary.

Mr Erdogan has refrained from naming Mr Gulen, but years of disagreements between the two men spilled into the open last month over a government plan to abolish private “prep” schools, including those run by Mr Gulen’s Hizmet movement.

Mr Erdogan’s position is under no immediate threat but the row could help decide local elections due in March. Mr Gulen had helped Erdogan’s Islamist-rooted AK Party win a growing share of the vote in three successive elections.

Those who attended yesterday’s protest in Istanbul appeared more concerned with the issue of corruption than the Gulen-Erdogan split.

“The people are not interested in the power struggle between Erdogan and Hizmet, said engineer Kadir Cekic (26). “I believe neither of them are innocent anyway, but for AK Party’s electorate to wake up and see some of the realities, these operations are very helpful.” – (Reuters)