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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 Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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