Mass protests erupt in Istanbul after Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu’s arrest

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s rival and Istanbul Mayor Ekram Imamoglu was arrested a few days before becoming the presidential candidate.

According to foreign media reports, Istanbul Mayor Ekram Imamoglu was detained on Wednesday morning.

Imamoglu, a member of the secular Republican People’s Party (CHP), is considered one of the strongest political rivals of Turkish President Erdogan. He was to be named the Republican People’s Party’s presidential candidate on March 23.

According to the report, Ekram Imamoglu has been accused of corruption and supporting a terrorist group.

Police have detained more than 100 people, including politicians, journalists and businessmen.

“The will of the people cannot be silenced,” Imamoglu said in an online statement.

On the other hand, anti-government demonstrations have started on the streets of Turkiye, university campuses and train stations after the arrest of the mayor of Istanbul.

There have been reports of clashes between protesters and police in Istanbul.

Meanwhile, the government has banned public gatherings in Istanbul under four days of restrictions, but more protests are expected across the country.

The Turkish opposition says that the detention of Imamoglu is an attempt to bar our future president from taking part in presidential election.