Photos of street protests as Turkey detains 120 opposition officials
People light flares during a protest called by the main opposition Republican People’s Party or (CHP), outside the City Hall in Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, July 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
ISTANBUL (AP) — Demonstrations were held Tuesday in Istanbul after Turkish authorities detained a former mayor and dozens of municipal officials in the western city of Izmir over alleged corruption, extending a crackdown against the country’s main opposition party.
Officials from CHP-controlled municipalities in Istanbul and elsewhere have faced waves of arrests this year over allegations of corruption.
The opposition claims the arrests are politically motivated, but President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government insists the courts are impartial and free from political involvement.
University students scuffle with police during a protest called by main opposition Republican People’s Party or (CHP), in Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, July 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
University students scuffle with police during a protest called by main opposition Republican People’s Party or (CHP), in Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, July 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
People light flares during a protest called by main opposition Republican People’s Party or (CHP), outside the City Hall in Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, July 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
People light flares during a protest called by main opposition Republican People’s Party or (CHP), outside the City Hall in Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, July 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
People chant slogans during a protest called by main opposition Republican People’s Party or (CHP), outside the City Hall in Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, July 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
People chant slogans during a protest called by main opposition Republican People’s Party or (CHP), outside the City Hall in Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, July 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
Women shout slogans during a protest called by the main opposition Republican People’s Party or (CHP), outside the City Hall in Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, July 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Women shout slogans during a protest called by the main opposition Republican People’s Party or (CHP), outside the City Hall in Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, July 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
University students scuffle with police during a protest called by the main opposition Republican People’s Party or (CHP), in Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, July 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
University students scuffle with police during a protest called by the main opposition Republican People’s Party or (CHP), in Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, July 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
People shout slogans during a protest called by main opposition Republican People’s Party or (CHP), outside the City Hall in Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, July 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
People shout slogans during a protest called by main opposition Republican People’s Party or (CHP), outside the City Hall in Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, July 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
University students scuffle with police during a protest called by main opposition Republican People’s Party or (CHP), in Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, July 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
University students scuffle with police during a protest called by main opposition Republican People’s Party or (CHP), in Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, July 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
University students scuffle with police during a protest called by main opposition Republican People’s Party or (CHP), in Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, July 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
University students scuffle with police during a protest called by main opposition Republican People’s Party or (CHP), in Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, July 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Police use pepper spray to disperse protesters during a rally called by main opposition Republican People’s Party or (CHP), in Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, July 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
Police use pepper spray to disperse protesters during a rally called by main opposition Republican People’s Party or (CHP), in Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, July 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
People attend a protest called by main opposition Republican People’s Party or (CHP), outside the City Hall in Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, July 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
People attend a protest called by main opposition Republican People’s Party or (CHP), outside the City Hall in Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, July 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)
The crackdown comes a year after the CHP made significant gains in local elections.
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This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.