Tens of thousands of demonstrators have flooded the streets across Turkey following the arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu, Istanbul’s mayor and a key political rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. 

Imamoglu, who was expected to be the Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) presidential candidate for 2028, has been charged with corruption-related offenses.

His detention has triggered Turkey’s most significant unrest in over a decade, with protests intensifying on Sunday night. 

Authorities responded with tear gas, rubber bullets, and water cannons to disperse crowds near Istanbul’s city hall, where thousands waved Turkish flags and chanted slogans against the government.

Imamoglu has dismissed the charges as politically motivated, vowing not to surrender. His wife, Dilek Kaya Imamoglu, addressed demonstrators, calling his arrest an "injustice that resonates with every conscience." 

The protests, spanning at least 55 of Turkey’s 81 provinces, are the largest since the 2013 Gezi Park demonstrations.

The CHP reports that nearly 15 million people participated in Sunday’s symbolic vote for Imamoglu, despite his suspension as mayor. If convicted, he will be barred from running for president.

Meanwhile, Erdogan’s government has condemned the unrest, accusing the opposition of attempting to divide the nation. 

Social media platform X has objected to Turkish authorities’ orders to block hundreds of accounts, including those of journalists and political figures.

As tensions rise, Imamoglu’s legal battle continues, with appeals planned at Turkey’s Constitutional Court and the European Court of Human Rights. 

The Supreme Election Council will ultimately determine his eligibility to run for office.

Source: BBC 

BDST: 1107 HRS, MAR 24, 2025
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