Hundreds of thousands of people protested in Turkey after authorities detained Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul, and Erdogan’s strongest political rival, just days before he was due to be selected as a presidential candidate.
Prosecutors accused Imamoglu, from the secular Republican People’s Party (CHP), of corruption and aiding a terrorist group, calling him a “criminal organization leader suspect”.
Police detained 100 people – including other politicians, journalists and businessmen – as part of the investigation, and the Istanbul governor’s office has imposed four days of restrictions in the city.
Imamoglu said online “the will of the people cannot be silenced” as thousands gathered to protest in Istanbul.
Last night, thousands of Istanbulites gathered at Saraçhane Square to demand justice and democracy in Türkiye.
— Ekrem İmamoğlu (International) (@imamoglu_int) March 20, 2025
United by a strong common desire for a better future, a nation’s will becomes unstoppable. pic.twitter.com/rbyy7jW1E9
In a social media video Imamoglu said he filmed while police were outside his home, he vowed to “stand resolute” for the people of Turkey “and all who uphold democracy and justice worldwide”. And in a handwritten note posted on his X account after his arrest, he said the people of Turkey would respond to “the lies, the conspiracies and the traps” against him.
Protesters have taken to the streets and university campuses, and in underground stations, with crowds chanting anti-government slogans. It is a display of public anger not seen in years.
There were reports of clashes between protesters and police in Turkey’s largest city. Footage from Reuters news agency shows police using pepper spray to disperse crowds outside Istanbul University.
İstanbul Üniversitesi’ndeki yürüyüşte öğrenci seli polis barikatını böyle aştı!https://t.co/MYXuZcOj5z pic.twitter.com/UgcWd1xaQq
— BirGün Gazetesi (@BirGun_Gazetesi) March 19, 2025
Thousands of people rallied in the cold in front of the city hall, shouting: “Erdogan, dictator!” and “Imamoglu, you are not alone!”
The government has banned public gatherings in Istanbul as part of the four days of restrictions. But more protests are anticipated nationwide as opposition leaders, including Imamoglu’s wife, urge people to “raise their voices”.
Many streets in Istanbul have also been closed to traffic, while some metro lines have also canceled their services.
The detention of Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on March 19, along with over 100 other officials and politicians, is a politically motivated move to stifle lawful political activities.
— Human Rights Watch (@hrw) March 19, 2025
They should be released from police custody immediately. https://t.co/uVZywtoVQa pic.twitter.com/VL0vWwJfHb
Imamoglu’s detention on Wednesday came a day after Istanbul University announced it was revoking his university diploma over irregularities—dealing a major blow to his ambition to run for president in the country’s next election. To run for president, a candidate must have a university degree.
The university said it was declaring the graduations and degrees of 28 people, including Imamoglu, as being “void” because of “obvious error.”
Last year, Imamoglu won a second term as Istanbul’s mayor, when his CHP party swept local elections there and in Ankara.
It was the first time since Erdogan came to power that his party was defeated across the country at the ballot box. The elections were also a personal blow to the president, who grew up in and became mayor of Istanbul on his rise to power.
