Overview

• Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested on March 19 on charges of corruption and alleged ties to the banned PKK, which he denies as politically motivated.
• Mass protests have erupted across Turkey, with hundreds of thousands participating in the largest demonstrations since the 2013 Gezi Park movement.
• Authorities have banned protests in major cities, arrested over 340 people, and used tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets to disperse crowds.
• The unrest has caused significant economic disruption, including a 16.5% drop in the Istanbul Stock Exchange, the sharpest decline since 2008.
• Opposition leaders have called the arrest a 'judicial coup' and vowed to continue protests, highlighting broader dissatisfaction with Erdogan's governance.