Turkish Police Officers Assigned to Protest Control Receive ₺10,000 Bonus Payments
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In the aftermath of the March 19 arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and several of his associates, nationwide protests erupted across Türkiye, beginning in Saraçhane and spreading to cities throughout the country.
It has now been reported that police officers assigned to manage the protests have received a ₺10,000 cash reward deposited directly into their bank accounts.
Interior Ministry Allegedly Authorized 'Reward Payments'
According to CHP Deputy Chair and İzmir MP Murat Bakan, the Ministry of Interior had authorized financial rewards for officers on protest duty. In a live broadcast, Bakan read aloud a message sent by a police officer confirming the bonus payment announcement.
Payments Confirmed Across Multiple Provinces
As reported by BirGün, the bonuses have now been deposited. Officers who participated in protest response operations across various cities reportedly received ₺10,000 each as a "reward payment".
The bonus distribution follows intense criticism and scrutiny surrounding the arrests of opposition figures and the police response to mass demonstrations, which have been viewed as a major turning point in Türkiye’s domestic unrest.