Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu has been formally arrested and charged with corruption, escalating political tensions in Turkey on Sunday, March 23.
Imamoglu, 54, a key rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was detained on Wednesday—just days before he was expected to be nominated as a candidate for the 2028 presidential elections.
The mayor denies all allegations, and his arrest has sparked widespread protests, some of the largest seen in Turkey in over a decade. Largely peaceful demonstrations across Turkey have continued for four consecutive nights despite a nationwide ban on street gatherings that remains in effect until March 26.
Since Thursday, riot police have frequently clashed with protesters, visibly using pepper spray and water cannons against crowds of demonstrators who are chanting “Don’t stay silent, or you’ll be next!” and holding banners reading “Justice, law, fairness” and “Do not be afraid, the people are here.”
A firework explodes near police officers standing guard, as demonstrators take part in a protest against the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, in Istanbul, Turkey, March 22, 2025. REUTERS/Dilara Senkaya
Riot police officers use pepper spray to disperse demonstrators during a protest against the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, in Istanbul, Turkey, March 22, 2025. REUTERS/Murad Sezer TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said Sunday that 323 people were detained the previous evening over disturbances at protests.
President Erdogan condemned the unrest, accusing Imamoglu’s opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), of attempting to “disturb the peace and divide the nation.”
Imamoglu, who has outperformed Erdogan in some opinion polls, dismissed the charges as “unfounded accusations and baseless slander,” according to Reuters.
The decision to imprison Imamoglu, follows strong criticism from the main opposition party, European leaders, and tens of thousands of protesters, who have condemned the move as politically motivated and undemocratic.
CHP’s presidential candidate selection
Meanwhile, members of the Turkish opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and others are heading to polling stations on Sunday for the ongoing primary elections, aimed at endorsing detained Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu as the party’s candidate for the 2028 presidential election.
People cast their ballots in a Republican People’s Party or (CHP) polling station during a symbolic election to show solidarity with Istanbul’s Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu after he was arrested, in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Huseyin Aldemir)
CHP has urged non-party members to participate in the vote to strengthen public opposition in response to Imamoglu’s detention. With over 1.5 million members, the CHP has set up 5,600 polling stations across all 81 provinces of Turkey. Voting will close at 14:00 GMT.
