Istanbul Mayor Jailed as Protests Against Erdogan's Government Expand

Ekrem Imamoglu, a key opposition leader, has been formally arrested on corruption charges, fueling Turkey's largest protests in over a decade and intensifying concerns about democratic backsliding.

Ekrem Imamoglu, Istanbul's mayor and a major presidential challenger, has been jailed pending trial on charges of corruption and alleged links to the PKK, which he denies.
Protests against Imamoglu's arrest have spread to over 50 provinces, marking Turkey's largest demonstrations in more than a decade, with hundreds of thousands participating despite bans on public gatherings.
Police have responded to protests with tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets, detaining over 300 protesters and nine journalists covering the events.
The opposition CHP has formally nominated Imamoglu as its presidential candidate, with millions casting symbolic 'solidarity ballots' in support of his leadership.
The arrest has drawn international criticism, destabilized Turkey’s financial markets, and heightened fears of authoritarianism under Erdogan's government.