Turkey Sees Mass Protests Following Istanbul Mayor’s Arrest

The detention of Ekrem Imamoglu on charges of corruption and alleged terrorism has led to nationwide demonstrations and intensified government crackdowns.

Hundreds of thousands have protested in Istanbul and across Turkey against the arrest of Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a prominent opposition figure and potential presidential candidate.
The Turkish government has imposed demonstration bans in major cities, including Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir, and deployed heavy police forces to disperse protesters using tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets.
President Erdogan has dismissed the protests as 'street terror' and accused the opposition of inciting chaos, while opposition leaders call the arrest politically motivated and a threat to democracy.
The CHP, Turkey's main opposition party, has reaffirmed its support for Imamoglu's presidential candidacy and urged continued peaceful demonstrations despite government restrictions.
International criticism has grown, with observers warning that Imamoglu's arrest deepens concerns about the erosion of democratic principles and judicial independence in Turkey.