Media Crackdown Amplifies as Journalists Arrested Amid Protests

Two journalists in Istanbul have been detained amid sweeping arrests of media workers covering significant protests in Turkey. The detentions come as authorities intensify crackdowns on activists and unionists. The arrests coincide with protests following the jailing of Istanbul's opposition Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.

In a significant move intensifying the crackdown on media workers, two journalists were detained in Istanbul during early morning raids on Friday. These actions are the latest in a series of detentions involving political activists, unionists, and journalists amidst Turkey's largest protests in a decade.

Elif Bayburt of Etkin News Agency and Nisa Sude Demirel from the Evrensel website were apprehended as authorities targeted those covering political events. The unrest began after Istanbul's opposition Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was jailed on corruption charges, viewed by many as politically motivated.

The arrests have drawn international condemnation, with Reporters Without Borders criticizing the relentless detentions. As nearly 1,900 have been arrested since March 19, families are left anxiously awaiting news, while protests for democratic freedoms continue in various Turkish cities.

(With inputs from agencies.)