Sun Mar 23 08:40:40 UTC 2025: ## Istanbul Mayor Jailed, Sparking Nationwide Protests in Turkey

**Istanbul, Turkey** – Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a leading opposition figure and potential presidential candidate, was jailed on Sunday pending trial on corruption charges, sparking widespread protests across Turkey. The move, condemned by opposition parties, European leaders, and tens of thousands of demonstrators, is seen as a major escalation of political tensions in the country.

Imamoglu, 54, and at least 20 others were imprisoned as part of a corruption investigation, one of two launched against him last week. While released under judicial control on a separate terror-related charge, the imprisonment has blocked any attempt by the government to appoint a trustee to run Istanbul. Imamoglu vehemently denies the charges, calling them “unimaginable accusations and slanders.”

The arrest came just as the Republican People’s Party (CHP), the main opposition party, was voting to officially nominate Imamoglu as their presidential candidate for the next election, scheduled for 2028. However, an earlier election could be called if President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has been in power for 22 years, decides to run again, as he will reach his term limit by then.

Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavas, also from the CHP, denounced the jailing as a disgrace to the judicial system. The Turkish government, however, maintains the investigations are unbiased and that the courts are independent, while warning against protests despite a nationwide ban extended on Saturday.

Protests erupted across the country following the announcement. Thousands gathered outside Istanbul’s municipality and courthouse on Saturday, clashing with police who used tear gas and pepper spray to disperse crowds. Similar clashes occurred in Izmir and Ankara. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya reported the detention of 323 people during the demonstrations. The scale and intensity of the protests are unprecedented in Turkey in over a decade and signal rising public discontent with Erdogan’s government.

Read More