Sat Mar 29 16:04:06 UTC 2025: ## Hundreds of Thousands Protest Istanbul Mayor’s Jailing in Turkey

**ISTANBUL, March 29, 2025** – Hundreds of thousands of Turks took to the streets of Istanbul on Saturday in massive protests against the imprisonment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a leading opposition figure and key rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The demonstrations, described as the largest in Turkey in over a decade, followed Imamoglu’s jailing last week pending trial on graft charges widely seen as politically motivated.

Imamoglu’s letter, read aloud at the rally, expressed defiance, stating, “I have no fear…the nation is united against the oppressor.” Protests, largely peaceful, have spread across the country, resulting in nearly 2,000 detentions.

Opposition parties, human rights groups, and several Western nations have condemned Imamoglu’s arrest as a politically driven attempt to neutralize a significant electoral threat to Erdogan. The Turkish government, however, maintains the judiciary’s independence and denies political interference.

The rally, organized by the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), saw demonstrators waving Turkish flags and banners with slogans like, “If justice is silent, the people will speak.” CHP leader Özgür Özel called for Imamoglu’s release and early elections, citing the government’s loss of legitimacy. He also announced a boycott of pro-Erdogan media outlets and businesses. The CHP recently endorsed Imamoglu as their presidential candidate for the 2028 election, although they are pushing for an earlier vote.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya reported that nearly 1,900 people had been detained since the protests began, with 260 jailed pending trial. President Erdogan dismissed the protests, warning of legal consequences and urging the CHP to cease its actions.

The political turmoil has significantly impacted Turkish financial markets, causing a plunge in assets and forcing the central bank to intervene to support the lira. While the government downplays the economic consequences, the private sector is experiencing considerable disruption.

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