Protests Erupt in Turkey Over Arrest of Opposition Mayor

Ahmet Ozer's arrest for alleged PKK ties sparks demonstrations and accusations of political interference.

Ahmet Ozer, mayor of Istanbul's Esenyurt district and member of the Republican People's Party (CHP), was arrested on charges of PKK membership.
The Turkish government appointed a trustee to replace Ozer, a move criticized by opposition parties as a 'political coup.'
Protests in Istanbul attracted hundreds of demonstrators, despite police bans on rallies near the town hall.
Ozer's arrest coincides with discussions of a potential peace process to resolve the decades-long conflict with Kurdish militants.
CHP leaders and pro-Kurdish politicians condemned the arrest, citing it as part of a broader pattern of targeting opposition figures.