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Turkey Protests Enter Second Week Amid Government Warnings and Widespread Arrests
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As protests continue against the arrest of Istanbul's mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, pressure is mounting on the Turkish government, which is facing a wave of violent demonstrations threatening its internal st

Ankara authorities announced on Tuesday the extension of the gathering ban in the Turkish capital until April 1, aiming to contain the protest movement sparked by the detention of opposition mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu of Istanbul.
This decision comes as the country is witnessing unprecedented protests not seen in over a decade, particularly after similar orders were issued in Istanbul and Izmir, the largest cities in western Turkey.
On the other hand, the Turkish public prosecutor's office issued arrest warrants for 41 people on charges of insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during protests in Istanbul.
In another development, Turkish authorities launched a new wave of arrests on Tuesday targeting "instigators" of the protests after the sixth night of ongoing demonstrations in various Turkish cities against İmamoğlu’s imprisonment. Seven out of the eight journalists arrested early Monday from their homes in Istanbul were released, but they will remain under judicial supervision, according to one of their lawyers.
In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya warned that "our security forces have detained 43 instigators, and efforts continue to arrest other suspects."
President Erdogan described the protests as having turned into a "movement of violence," blaming the Republican People's Party for any damage to property or injuries to police officers during the protests.
İmamoğlu's arrest triggered the largest protests Turkey has seen in over a decade after a Turkish court sentenced him to jail pending trial on corruption charges, which he denies. The Republican People's Party, the largest opposition party in Turkey, described the arrest as politically motivated and contrary to democratic principles, while the government emphasized that the judiciary is completely independent in its decisions.
Despite the gathering ban in several Turkish cities, protests continued for the sixth consecutive night in Istanbul and other major cities, with hundreds of thousands of protesters participating. Although most protests were peaceful, there are signs of increasing political tension in Turkey as demonstrations escalate and security measures against opponents intensify.
Özgür Özal, leader of the Republican People's Party, called on citizens across the country to continue protesting against what he described as "injustice," while Erdogan vowed to hold the opposition party accountable politically in parliament and legally in court.
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BENEFIT AGM approves 10%...
- March 27, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).
Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.
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