Shafaq News/ On Thursday, thousands of protesters took to the streets ofIstanbul, joining mass demonstrations organized by opposition forces, primarilyled by the Republican People's Party (CHP), in protest against the arrest ofIstanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.
Despite authorities closing off roads andimposing a four-day ban on demonstrations, protests were concentrated outsideIstanbul's City Hall, where demonstrators chanted slogans against TurkishPresident Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and in support of İmamoğlu.
From his detention, İmamoğlu called on theTurkish people to raise their voices "against evil." Writing on hissocial media platform X, he stated, "You cannot, and should not, remainsilent. This issue has gone beyond our political parties; it now concerns ournation. It is time for you to raise your voices."
He further urged the judiciary to act"against a handful of colleagues who are destroying Turkish justice andtarnishing our reputation before the entire world."
İmamoğlu was arrested by Turkish police andcharged with "corruption and aiding a terrorist organization,"according to Turkish Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç. The arrest campaign alsotargeted over 100 of İmamoğlu's aides and members of the CHP.
Additionally, on Tuesday, Istanbul Universityannulled İmamoğlu's degree, adding another obstacle to his potentialpresidential candidacy. According to the Turkish constitution, any presidentialcandidate must hold a higher education degree.
İmamoğlu's arrest could derail his bid tochallenge Erdoğan in the 2028 presidential elections, coming just days beforehe was to be officially nominated as the main opposition party’s candidate.Following the arrest, Turkiye 's financial markets saw a decline, with analystsciting concerns that the move may be politically motivated.
Republican People's Party leader Özgür Özelcondemned the actions, claiming that Erdoğan, who suffered significant lossesin last year’s local elections, "targeted İmamoğlu out of fear of losingif they were to face each other in the polls."
Özelalso accused the authorities of carrying out a "coup attempt," aclaim that was swiftly rebutted Tunç, who reminded the public that the courtsin Turkiye are independent.
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