European rights watchdog says it's worried about Turkey after mayor's jailing

Supporters of Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul and main rival of President Tayyip Erdogan, protest outside his prison during his first hearing over accusations leveled against him, as Turkish gendarmerie banned them to approach to the Marmara Prison, formerly Silivri Prison, and Courthouse Complex in Istanbul, Turkey, April 11, 2025. REUTERS/Umit Bektas/File Photo

ANTALYA, Turkey (Reuters) - The head of the Council of Europe, the continent's leading human rights watchdog, told Reuters it was worried about any violations of rights in Turkey after the jailing of President Tayyip Erdogan's chief political rival and hundreds of arrests that followed mass protests.

Secretary General Alain Berset said the problem of democratic backsliding should be addressed as a global phenomenon, adding that the Council had no specific position on probes under way into numerous Turkish opposition figures.