Following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, political opposition in Turkey is urging mass protests. Imamoglu faces accusations of corruption and terror associations, arriving just before he was expected to be nominated as a presidential candidate. Supporters assert that this arrest is aimed at eliminating a formidable rival to President Erdogan's long-standing power. Protests have escalated in cities like Istanbul and Ankara, leading to clashes with police and a subsequent five-day ban on demonstrations, citing public order concerns. Erdogan maintains that his administration will not yield to what he characterizes as 'street terrorism.'
Thousands of people have protested in Turkish cities since Imamoglu's arrest. In Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir, clashes erupted between police and protesters.
CHP leader Ozgur Ozel called for peaceful demonstrations, saying, "I invite tens of thousands... to express our democratic reaction, and exercise our constitutional rights."
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