Confrontation follows court ruling that party’s Istanbul provincial chairman be replaced over alleged irregularities.Published On 8 Sep 20258 Sep 2025Police have fired pepper spray and detained supporters of Turkiye’s main opposition party as crowds gathered outside the headquarters of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) in Istanbul to protest against a court order removing a senior party official.Footage from the scene on Monday showed protesters clashing with police before riot units pushed into the crowd. Demonstrators were seen clutching their eyes after being sprayed while officers led others away.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of listThe confrontation came after a court ruled last week that Ozgur Celik, the CHP’s Istanbul provincial chairman, be replaced by Gursel Tekin, a former deputy party leader.CHP national leader Ozgur Ozel dismissed the ruling as “null and void”, saying Tekin had been expelled from the party. Celik also insisted he would not hand over the post.Tekin entered the building on Monday after a lengthy standoff, telling reporters he was not working for the state and would focus on resolving the party’s legal disputes.Al Jazeera’s Sinem Koseoglu, reporting from Istanbul, said prosecutors launched the case after complaints from a faction within the CHP, accusing the dismissed leadership of irregularities and corruption during the party’s 2023 congress.“For opposition supporters, this is seen as a judicial coup against them while rival CHP members insist the ruling addresses corruption,” she said.‘Political interference’The order is the latest in a yearlong series of measures against the CHP that has seen hundreds of members detained.In March, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem …
