A Massive Protest Erupts in Istanbul Over Arrest of Opposition Leader
A massive demonstration took place in Istanbul on Saturday as citizens rallied against the recent arrest of opposition leader Ekrem İmamoğlu.
İmamoğlu, who was removed from his position as the mayor of Istanbul following corruption charges last week, has been widely seen as the most serious political rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Despite his arrest, İmamoğlu was formally announced on Monday as a candidate for the upcoming presidential election.
His detention ignited a wave of dissent across Turkey, leading to days of nationwide protests. In response, Turkish authorities have intensified their crackdown on opposition groups, reportedly detaining more than a thousand demonstrators and arresting several journalists covering the unrest.
The mass rally in Istanbul was organized by Özgür Özel, leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP). In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Özel reported that the crowd numbered around 2.2 million people. Speaking to French newspaper Le Monde, he said that the protest marks the beginning of a broader movement, with plans to hold national demonstrations every Saturday and weekly protests in Istanbul every Wednesday.
The European Commission weighed in this week, calling on the Turkish government to respect democratic norms and freedoms, and urging Ankara “to uphold democratic values.”













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