Overview

• The arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on March 19 has sparked the largest protests in Turkey since 2013, with millions demanding his release and democratic reforms.
• The CHP, Turkey's main opposition party, has announced weekly rallies and expanded protests to additional provinces to sustain pressure on the government.
• Over 2,000 people, including students and cultural figures, have been detained during the demonstrations, which continue despite government crackdowns and media restrictions.
• Protests have gained international traction, with Turkish diaspora communities organizing solidarity events in cities like Augsburg, Germany.
• İmamoğlu, recently nominated as the CHP's 2028 presidential candidate, remains in custody, and his legal status raises uncertainties about his candidacy.