Thousands gathered in Istanbul to protest the arrest of Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on Wednesday, a key rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and a potential presidential candidate. Authorities attempted to curb the unrest by restricting access to social media, but demonstrations persisted.
Imamoglu, accused of corruption and alleged ties to the PKK, denounced the charges as politically motivated in a video before his arrest. His university degree was also annulled, potentially barring him from future elections.
Alongside Imamoglu, 106 others, including journalist Ismail Saymaz, were also detained, sparking widespread outrage.
