Mass Protests Continue in Turkey Against Imamoglu's Jailing

Hundreds of thousands of protesters gathered in Istanbul on Saturday to denounce the imprisonment of Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a leading political rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in what has become Turkey’s largest demonstrations in over a decade.

At a rally organized by the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), a letter from Imamoglu was read aloud, drawing cheers from the crowd. "I have no fear—you are behind me and by my side," the letter stated. "The nation is united against the oppressor. They can jail me and try me as much as they want, but the people have shown they will crush all traps and plots."

Imamoglu, who faces graft charges that he and his supporters say are politically motivated, also accused Erdogan of evading electoral competition. "With every move against me, Erdogan proves he is afraid of his opponent and running away from fair elections," the letter continued.

Growing Opposition Movement

Nationwide protests have surged since Imamoglu was detained last week and later jailed pending trial. While demonstrations have remained largely peaceful, authorities have detained nearly 2,000 people.

The CHP, alongside other opposition parties, human rights groups, and Western governments, has condemned the case as an attempt to sideline a key challenger ahead of elections. The Turkish government denies interfering in judicial processes, maintaining that courts operate independently.

In Istanbul’s Maltepe district, protesters waved Turkish flags and banners reading "Freedom for Imamoglu." CHP leader Ozgur Ozel claimed 2.2 million people attended, though the figure could not be independently verified.

In a recent op-ed for The New York Times, Imamoglu framed his detention as part of Turkey’s democratic backsliding. "Realizing he cannot defeat me at the ballot box, Erdogan has resorted to other means: arresting his main opponent on baseless charges," he wrote. "Turkey, with its long democratic tradition, now risks passing the point of no return."

The case has intensified scrutiny over Turkey’s judicial independence and raised concerns about the country’s political future.