Protests Intensify in Turkey as İmamoğlu's Lawyer Briefly Detained

Nationwide demonstrations continue after the arrest of Istanbul's mayor, with calls for early elections and heightened international scrutiny of Erdoğan's government.

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu remains in detention following his March 19 arrest on corruption and terrorism charges, which opposition leaders claim are politically motivated.
Protests have entered their tenth day, with tens of thousands demonstrating across Turkey despite police crackdowns, media restrictions, and nearly 2,000 detentions reported by the Interior Ministry.
İmamoğlu's lawyer, Mehmet Pehlivan, was briefly detained on March 28 over alleged money laundering charges, which opposition figures denounce as fabricated.
The CHP has called for a major rally on March 29 in Istanbul, demanding İmamoğlu's release and early presidential elections, framing his arrest as a 'coup' against democracy.
International criticism of Erdoğan's government grows, but concrete actions remain limited, with human rights organizations condemning excessive police violence and media suppression.