ALWAGHT- Protesters in Turkey have again filled Istanbul's streets, opposing the mayor's arrest on terror and graft charges.
Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Istanbul on Saturday night following the arrest of Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. Republican People's Party leader Ozgur Ozil stated that 300,000 people had gathered across multiple locations due to road closures preventing a single large demonstration. Imamoglu was detained just days before he was expected to announce his candidacy for the next presidential election.
Imamoglu, a key opposition figure and potential 2028 presidential challenger to President Erdogan, appeared before police on terror-related charges after being questioned over corruption allegations. He has denied all accusations, and his party has condemned the arrest as a political move. His detention has triggered nationwide protests, with demonstrators rallying in several cities.
The government has dismissed the protests as a political stunt, while opposition leaders have urged supporters to continue demonstrating. Despite efforts to suppress the protests, they have persisted, with protesters vowing to keep going until Imamoglu is released.
