Overview

• Ekrem İmamoğlu, Istanbul's mayor and a prominent opposition figure, remains in detention on corruption charges he denies, sparking widespread protests since March.
• On Wednesday, tens of thousands gathered outside Istanbul University, where his degree was revoked before his arrest, to demand his release and restoration of his diploma.
• A petition for İmamoğlu's release and early elections has garnered nearly 15 million signatures, reflecting significant public dissent against President Erdoğan's government.
• Turkish authorities have ordered the blocking of İmamoğlu’s X account, citing national security concerns, while the platform has filed a legal appeal against the decision.
• Opposition leaders and activists denounce the account block as censorship, accusing the government of suppressing dissent and curbing freedom of expression.