Hundreds of thousands of pro-democracy activists have rallied in Istanbul, Turkey, to demand justice for the city's mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, who was recently imprisoned on corruption charges. Imamoglu, perceived as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's main political opposition, asserted that the accusations against him are unfounded and politically motivated.
The large turnout on Saturday was so extensive that demonstrators overflowed from the protest site into a nearby park. The chairman of Imamoglu's Republican People's Party (CHP) addressed the crowd, reading a heartfelt message from Imamoglu, currently being held in solitary confinement. "I have no fear, you are behind me and by my side. I have no fear because the nation is united against the oppressor," Imamoglu's letter stated.
His wife, Dilek Imamoglu, joined the event, encouraging attendees by saying, "We will keep fighting and fighting." Protesters waved the national Turkish flag and shouted slogans such as "Rights, law, justice!" Imamoglu has been mayor since 2019 and enjoyed a landslide victory in the recent mayoral elections, making him the CHP's anticipated candidate in the presidential race scheduled for 2028.
Erdogan, who has held power for more than two decades, won’t be eligible for re-election post-2028 unless constitutional amendments are made. In the wake of Imamoglu's arrest, waves of pro-democracy protests have surged throughout Turkey. Although Saturday's demonstration remained peaceful, prior gatherings witnessed aggressive police responses, including the use of tear gas and rubber bullets.
Almost 2,000 individuals have been arrested, including journalists covering the events, among them BBC correspondent Mark Lowen, who faced deportation due to alleged improper press accreditation. Erdogan labeled the protests as "street terrorism," claiming demonstrators engaged in violent confrontations with law enforcement and vandalized property. Many observers express concern about the potential for an unfair trial for Imamoglu when his day in court arrives. The government continues to maintain that Imamoglu's detention was not politically charged and insists on the independence of Turkish judiciary.
