Hundreds of thousands of people gathered outside Istanbul’s city centre to show their support for jailed mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu, who was arrested on corruption charges amid a major crackdown on the opposition. A call for democracy and justice echoed through the streets as protesters demanded an end to authoritarian rule.
Hundreds of thousands of people gathered outside Istanbul’s city centre on Saturday to show their support for Ekrem İmamoğlu, who was arrested on corruption charges amid a major crackdown on the opposition. The rally, organized by the head of the main opposition ‘Republican People’s party (CHP)’, aimed to sustain the largest anti-government demonstrations in years.
Ekrem İmamoğlu is a Turkish politician and the current Mayor of 'Istanbul'.
Born on March 4, 1970, in 'Istanbul'.
He graduated from Istanbul University with a degree in Economics.
İmamoğlu served as the Mayor of Beyoğlu district from 2019 to 2023.
He was elected as the Mayor of 'Istanbul' in 2019 and has been re-elected for a second term in 2024.
İmamoğlu is known for his progressive policies and commitment to environmental issues.
Ekrem İmamoğlu, a highly popular secularist who was widely seen as the most likely next president to succeed President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, responded with an impassioned call for mass demonstrations to save democracy in Turkey. The jailed mayor accused foreign leaders, particularly those in Europe, of failing to speak out about his detention.
Analysts argue that İmamoğlu‘s arrest marks a decisive moment in Turkish political history, with the country now switching from ‘competitive authoritarianism‘ to a straightforward authoritarian system. The Turkish authorities have arrested 1,900 people in the past 10 days, including politicians, businessmen, and journalists.
The crackdown on the opposition is part of an unprecedented attack by Erdoğan‘s judicial and law enforcement apparatus. Authorities have detained hundreds of protesters, blocked opposition social media accounts, and restricted bandwidth to social media platforms. WhatsApp was also not available at times.
In response to the arrest, the leader of İmamoğlu‘s party announced an extraordinary congress on April 6 to eliminate the possibility of Erdoğan‘s government appointing a trustee to run the party. The CHP chairman stated that they would announce to all of Turkey that they are blocking any attempts at a trusteeship by taking the party to an extraordinary congress.
Former President Abdullah Gül stepped in to remind Erdoğan that he too was arrested in the past and sent to prison, warning that ‘what was done to President Tayyip Erdoğan and to me in the past should not be done to Ekrem İmamoğlu either’.
Abdullah Gül is a Turkish politician who served as the 11th President of Turkey from 2007 to 2014.
Born on October 29, 1949, in Kayseri, Turkey, he graduated from Istanbul University's Faculty of Political Sciences.
Gül began his career in politics as a member of the Justice and Development Party (AKP).
He held various positions, including Minister of State for Foreign Trade and Deputy Prime Minister.
In 2007, he was elected President and served two terms.
During his presidency, Gül played a key role in Turkey's EU accession negotiations and promoted economic reforms.
Several observers reckon that Erdoğan‘s gambit is to go for early elections without running against İmamoğlu, as the 54-year-old is seen by many as the only unifying candidate who could beat him in the presidential elections. If parliament calls for early elections, Erdoğan could legally run again before finishing his second term.
Popular Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu is seen by many as a likely next president — as long as Erdoğan‘s authorities don’t jail him. The CHP managed to flip several traditional districts of Istanbul that were considered reliable bastions for the ruling AK Party in the last municipal elections.
The situation remains tense, with the Turkish opposition mobilizing huge crowds to protest against the arrest and the government’s crackdown on dissent. The outcome of the presidential elections is far from certain, and Turkey’s future hangs in the balance.
