Turkey Experiences Worst Riots in Over a Decade! Chinese Eyewitness Records Early Morning Streets: "A dense mass of riot police ahead."

2025-03-28 15:06:56

Recently, the arrest of a Turkish opposition leader has triggered large-scale demonstrations, with protest rallies spreading across 55 provinces in the country. According to Xinhua News Agency, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was detained by Turkish police on March 19 on charges of alleged corruption and aiding terrorist organizations. These actions are widely seen as part of Turkish President Erdogan’s crackdown on political rivals, sparking the most severe street unrest Turkey has witnessed in over a decade. On

March 23, the Istanbul-based blogger "Na Zhi Lvxing De Mao" (The Traveling Cat) documented her experience passing through protest-occupied areas in the early hours of the morning.

Though it was late at night, the blogger’s video shows pedestrians filling even the vehicle lanes, with burning piles of objects scattered across the streets.

"Most people were still relatively friendly and gave way to my car, but the atmosphere was extremely tense. I felt that if anyone confronted me, a crowd might swarm to smash my vehicle! After finally managing to navigate through the area occupied by protesters and leaving them behind, the scene ahead left me stunned: a massive, dark formation of riot police stood in multiple layers blocking my path. Moreover, they seemed equally shocked to see me alone in my car," said blogger "Na Zhi Lvxing De Mao" (The Traveling Cat).

"Xiao Ou" (pseudonym), who works in Turkey, told reporters that many friends have recently been inquiring about the domestic situation in Turkey and expressing concerns about the safety of visiting Istanbul. "I walked around the streets these past few days and found people still shopping normally, with some fishing by the riverside as usual. Although the lira has depreciated slightly, the order of work and daily routines remain largely unaffected." Xiao Ou believes that as long as you avoid crowded areas, the situation is manageable.