Turkey Faces Escalating Protests Over Jailed Opposition Leader

The ongoing nationwide demonstrations, sparked by Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu's arrest, have led to mass detentions, police crackdowns, and international criticism of Turkey's democratic trajectory.

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, seen as a key political rival to President Erdogan, remains detained on corruption charges widely viewed as politically motivated.
Nationwide protests, now in their seventh day, have spread to over 55 provinces, with demonstrators calling for Imamoglu's release and condemning democratic backsliding.
Over 1,100 protesters and at least 10 journalists have been detained, with rights groups criticizing the police's use of tear gas, water cannons, and plastic bullets as excessive.
The Republican People's Party (CHP) has confirmed Imamoglu as its 2028 presidential candidate, solidifying his role as a symbol of opposition resilience despite his imprisonment.
International condemnation has intensified, with European governments and rights organizations urging Turkey to respect democratic norms and halt its crackdown on dissent.