Large crowds rally in Istanbul over jailing of city’s mayor

Tens of thousands congregated in Istanbul on Saturday to rally against the imprisonment of Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, President Tayyip Erdogan’s primary opponent, marking the most significant protests Turkey has experienced in over ten years.

Hundreds of thousands have responded to opposition appeals and taken to the streets across the country since Imamoglu was arrested last week and subsequently jailed awaiting trial on corruption charges. Demonstrations have generally been non-violent, yet almost 2,000 individuals have been arrested.

The primary opposition party, Republican People’s Party (CHP), along with other opposition groups, human rights organizations, and Western nations, have all stated that the case against Imamoglu is a politically motivated attempt to remove a possible electoral rival to Erdogan.

The government claims there is no interference with the judiciary and asserts that the courts operate independently. Tens of thousands brandishing Turkish flags and banners flocked to the sea-front rally area in Maltepe, on Istanbul’s Asian side, for Saturday’s “Freedom for Imamoglu” event organized by the CHP.

The CHP conducted a primary election last Sunday to support Imamoglu as their candidate for the upcoming presidential election. It is planned for 2028, but the CHP is requesting an earlier election, claiming that the government has lost its legitimacy.

This week, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya reported that almost 1,900 individuals had been arrested since the protests started, noting that by Thursday, the courts had held 260 of them in custody awaiting trial. Erdogan, who has been the dominant figure in Turkish politics for more than twenty years, has characterized the nationwide protests as a “show,” issued warnings about legal repercussions, and urged the CHP to cease “provoking” the Turkish people.

Following Imamoglu’s arrest, Turkish financial assets have dropped significantly, leading the central bank to utilize reserves to bolster the lira. The upheaval has generated ripples throughout the private sector. The administration has stated that the effect would be confined and short-lived.