Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu has been detained amid allegations of corruption and links to the PKK, prompting calls for his formal arrest. This has resulted in significant protests across Turkey, as many view these actions as politically motivated to prevent him from contesting the upcoming 2028 presidential elections. Despite a heavy police presence and authority barriers, hundreds demonstrated peacefully, denouncing the mayor's arrest. This represents the largest wave of protests in over a decade, highlighting rising tensions in the political landscape.
Prosecutors early Sunday requested that detained Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, the top challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, be formally arrested over allegations of corruption and terror links.
The arrest this week of Imamoglu has intensified political tensions and sparked widespread protests across Turkey, with demonstrators rallying in multiple cities to voice their opposition.
Many view his arrest as a politically driven attempt to remove Imamoglu from the next presidential race, currently scheduled for 2028.
The demonstrations were largely peaceful but a group of protesters, trying to break through barricades to reach Istanbul's main square, threw flares, stones and other objects at police.
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