Turkish Authorities Arrest 11 People After Viral Online Boycotting Calls

Anadolu, the Turkish state news agency, reported earlier today that Istanbul's Chief Public Prosecutor's Office issued arrest warrants for 16 suspects in an investigation into "hatred and discrimination" and "inciting hatred and hostility" among the public.

The mentioned investigation refers to calls by Turkish students all over social media for boycotting pro-government businesses, to oppose Erdogan's decision of arresting Ekrem Imamoglu, the Mayor of Istanbul. Read more about it here.

So far, Turkish police have detained 11 people suspected of spreading calls for the boycott. The detentions followed a call by Ozgur Ozel, one of Turkey's Main Opposition Leaders, for a larger boycott movement of businesses with perceived ties to President Erdogan's government.

Cem Yigit Uzunoglu, a renowned Turkish actor known for his role in Netflix's "Rise of Empires: Ottoman", was among the 16 people who were detained in Istanbul amid the boycotting calls. According to reports, the actor was released today under judicial control and a travel ban.

The social media posts that got them detained were calling on people "not to spend money on Wednesday" and for businesses to "shut their doors in solidarity during the day-long boycott". The Turkish government condemned the boycott of pro-government businesses as an attempt to destabilize the economy.