Tens of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets across Turkey after Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a key political rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was arrested and charged with corruption.
Imamoglu, who was expected to be the opposition’s 2028 presidential candidate, called the charges politically motivated, vowing, “I will never bow.”
Sunday night saw the worst unrest in Turkey in over a decade, with police using tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets against demonstrators. Protesters gathered near Istanbul’s city hall, waving Turkish flags and chanting slogans in defiance of the government crackdown. Imamoglu’s wife, Dilek Kaya Imamoglu, addressed the crowd, condemning the arrest as an attack on justice.
The demonstrations have spread nationwide, with rallies in 55 of Turkey’s 81 provinces. Many see the protests as reminiscent of the 2013 Gezi Park movement, which began over an environmental dispute but grew into a major anti-government uprising. The scale of the current unrest signals deep dissatisfaction with Erdogan’s government.
Imamoglu was arrested as part of a broader investigation targeting more than 100 individuals, including politicians, journalists, and business figures. He faces charges of bribery, extortion, data manipulation, and rigging a tender. Despite his legal troubles, Imamoglu urged citizens to continue protesting and participating in the opposition’s internal election process.
The arrest does not disqualify Imamoglu from running for president, but a conviction would bar him from office. The opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) reported that nearly 15 million people cast ballots in Sunday’s vote, with many non-members participating in symbolic support for Imamoglu. The BBC has not independently verified these figures.
Erdogan’s government has condemned the protests, accusing the CHP of trying to “disturb the peace and polarize our people.” The Ministry of Justice has denied allegations that the arrest was politically motivated, insisting on judicial independence. However, many see Imamoglu’s detention as an attempt to eliminate a strong challenger to Erdogan’s rule.
Adding to the controversy, Istanbul University announced that it was revoking Imamoglu’s degree over alleged irregularities. Since Turkey’s constitution requires presidential candidates to have completed higher education, this move could jeopardize his candidacy. Imamoglu’s lawyers plan to appeal the decision at the Constitutional Court and the European Court of Human Rights.
Prosecutors have also sought to charge Imamoglu with aiding an armed terrorist organization, though the court has not yet deemed this necessary. The CHP previously aligned with the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM) in local elections. The Turkish government accuses DEM of ties to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which it considers a terrorist group.
Social media platforms have also been affected, with Turkey’s communications regulator ordering the blocking of over 700 accounts, including those of journalists and politicians. X (formerly Twitter) has objected to these restrictions, calling them unlawful and harmful to political discourse.
More than 700 people have been arrested since protests began, but demonstrations remain largely peaceful. Many protesters emphasize that their participation is not about supporting a political party but about defending democracy and justice. Some fear that Erdogan’s long-standing grip on power is leading Turkey toward authoritarianism.
As unrest continues, Turkey faces an uncertain political future. With Erdogan constitutionally barred from seeking re-election in 2028 unless the law is changed, Imamoglu’s arrest raises questions about whether Turkey’s opposition can challenge the president’s dominance—or if his government will take further steps to suppress dissent.
