Turkish authorities arrested several politicians and journalists on Monday morning, including the leader of the Communist Party of Türkiye, Ahmet Dincel.
These arrests come as many people have taken to the streets to protest the arrest of Istanbul Mayor and presidential candidate Ekrem Imamoglu.
The mayor of Istanbul, elected in 2019 and triumphantly re-elected in 2024, is President Erdogan's number one opponent. By conquering Turkey's largest and richest city (with a population of nearly 16 million), the 53-year-old mayor has become the man "to beat" for the ruling AKP and the head of state.
He was arrested on Wednesday on charges of "corruption and supporting a terrorist organization." In the arrest warrant, which AFP had access to, the court states that the suspect "is being arrested for creating and directing a criminal organization; accepting bribes; corruption; illegal registration of personal data and fraud in public tenders."
Since his arrest, Istanbul has been the scene of protests and clashes with police, the likes of which have not been seen in the country since 2013. Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Istanbul on Friday and Saturday night, and large demonstrations were held in Ankara and Izmir in particular. Since Wednesday, demonstrations have been held in at least 55 of Turkey's 81 provinces.
On Sunday, tens of thousands of people gathered again at Istanbul City Hall, where there were clashes between protesters and police. You can see these images in the gallery above.
Authorities have banned all gatherings in the country's largest city until Wednesday night.
Meanwhile, the mayor, who was removed from office and transferred to a prison on Sunday, has been designated by the main opposition party as its candidate for Turkey's 2028 presidential election.
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