Overview

• Ekrem Imamoglu, Istanbul's mayor and a key rival to President Erdogan, was arrested on charges of corruption and alleged ties to terrorism on March 19, 2025.
• Thousands of protesters have gathered across Istanbul, defying a government-imposed ban on demonstrations and calling the arrest a 'coup d'état.'
• The Turkish government has restricted access to social media platforms, with additional arrests of journalists, activists, and online users reported.
• Istanbul University annulled Imamoglu's degree, potentially disqualifying him from the 2028 presidential election, raising concerns of election interference.
• European officials have condemned the arrest, warning of its impact on Turkish democracy, while Imamoglu has urged national unity against what he calls political misuse of the judiciary.