Istanbul Mayor Ordered Jailed by Turkish Court Amid Violent Protests
Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was formally arrested by a Turkish court on Sunday, leading to his pretrial detention on corruption charges. This development follows violent protests that erupted across the country after Imamoglu’s detention...
TroibNews 
Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was formally arrested by a Turkish court on Sunday, leading to his pretrial detention on corruption charges. This development follows violent protests that erupted across the country after Imamoglu’s detention earlier in the week.
As a prominent figure in the opposition Republican People’s Party and a significant rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Imamoglu was taken into custody on Wednesday in connection with a broad investigation into alleged extortion, bribery, and fraud. Additionally, prosecutors have initiated a separate case regarding his purported links to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, which is classified as a terrorist organization by Ankara.
On Sunday, the court granted prosecutors' request to remand Imamoglu in custody while awaiting trial on the corruption charges, although a decision regarding the terrorism case remains outstanding. During a court appearance on Saturday, Imamoglu denied any misconduct, asserting that the allegations are politically motivated.
READ MORE: Erdogan’s bane: The Turkish president’s most powerful rival is arrested. What now?
Imamoglu’s arrest came just days before he was expected to be nominated as the CHP’s candidate for the 2028 presidential election. His detention ignited some of the largest protests seen in over a decade, despite a current ban on street gatherings in Istanbul, set to remain in place until March 26.
Protests continued into the fourth consecutive night in the city, with thousands gathering outside Istanbul’s municipal headquarters in Sarachane and at the Caglayan courthouse. Demonstrators waved flags and shouted slogans in support of Imamoglu, while police used tear gas and pepper spray to disperse them.
Similar demonstrations occurred in Ankara and the western city of Izmir, where local reports indicated the use of water cannons. By Sunday morning, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced that 323 individuals had been detained amid the unrest nationwide.
Erdogan denounced the protests, claiming that opposition leaders were inciting “street terrorism” and warned that such actions would not be tolerated.
READ MORE: Protests in support of detained mayor sweep Türkiye
In a post on X, Imamoglu praised the demonstrations as “a defense of democracy” and urged his supporters to participate in symbolic “solidarity boxes” established by the CHP, allowing non-party members to show their support for him. Despite the court’s decision, the CHP has reiterated its commitment to backing Imamoglu as its presidential candidate.
Max Fischer for TROIB News
As a prominent figure in the opposition Republican People’s Party and a significant rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Imamoglu was taken into custody on Wednesday in connection with a broad investigation into alleged extortion, bribery, and fraud. Additionally, prosecutors have initiated a separate case regarding his purported links to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, which is classified as a terrorist organization by Ankara.
On Sunday, the court granted prosecutors' request to remand Imamoglu in custody while awaiting trial on the corruption charges, although a decision regarding the terrorism case remains outstanding. During a court appearance on Saturday, Imamoglu denied any misconduct, asserting that the allegations are politically motivated.
READ MORE: Erdogan’s bane: The Turkish president’s most powerful rival is arrested. What now?
Imamoglu’s arrest came just days before he was expected to be nominated as the CHP’s candidate for the 2028 presidential election. His detention ignited some of the largest protests seen in over a decade, despite a current ban on street gatherings in Istanbul, set to remain in place until March 26.
Protests continued into the fourth consecutive night in the city, with thousands gathering outside Istanbul’s municipal headquarters in Sarachane and at the Caglayan courthouse. Demonstrators waved flags and shouted slogans in support of Imamoglu, while police used tear gas and pepper spray to disperse them.
Similar demonstrations occurred in Ankara and the western city of Izmir, where local reports indicated the use of water cannons. By Sunday morning, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced that 323 individuals had been detained amid the unrest nationwide.
Erdogan denounced the protests, claiming that opposition leaders were inciting “street terrorism” and warned that such actions would not be tolerated.
READ MORE: Protests in support of detained mayor sweep Türkiye
In a post on X, Imamoglu praised the demonstrations as “a defense of democracy” and urged his supporters to participate in symbolic “solidarity boxes” established by the CHP, allowing non-party members to show their support for him. Despite the court’s decision, the CHP has reiterated its commitment to backing Imamoglu as its presidential candidate.
Max Fischer for TROIB News
