Overview

• The largest opposition rally in over a decade took place in Istanbul, with hundreds of thousands calling for the release of Ekrem Imamoglu and denouncing his arrest as politically motivated.
• Imamoglu, a prominent opposition figure and potential 2028 presidential candidate, was arrested on March 19 on charges of corruption and alleged ties to terrorism, which the CHP claims are baseless and aimed at blocking his candidacy.
• Protests have spread across Turkey, with over 2,000 people arrested nationwide, including students, journalists, and lawyers, as authorities continue to crack down on dissent.
• International criticism of President Erdogan's administration is mounting, with accusations of democratic backsliding and calls for the immediate release of detainees.
• The CHP remains defiant, officially nominating Imamoglu as its 2028 presidential candidate and framing the movement as a fight for justice and democracy in Turkey.