Overview

• Ekrem Imamoglu, Istanbul's mayor and a key opposition figure, remains in detention on charges of corruption and terrorism, which he denies as politically motivated.
• Protests, now in their seventh day, have grown into the largest demonstrations in Turkey since 2013, with tens of thousands defying bans and facing police crackdowns.
• The CHP has formally nominated Imamoglu as its presidential candidate despite legal challenges, including the revocation of his university degree, which could disqualify him under Turkish law.
• International organizations and governments have condemned the Turkish authorities for mass arrests, police violence, and restrictions on press freedom during the protests.
• Erdogan’s government has labeled the protests as violent and referred to demonstrators as 'street terrorists,' further escalating tensions within the country.