After the arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul, Turkey, the demonstration continues for the sixth day. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused the opposition parties of inciting "violent protests".
Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) said the protests would end on Tuesday. But the party did not mention anything about the other programs of the movement, according to the BBC. Around 1,300 people were detained by the police during the demonstration after the arrest of Mayor Emamoglu.
Imamoglu is the main rival of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Imamoglu was arrested last Wednesday after preparing to run for the 2028 presidential election from CHP.
Imamoglu has been accused of establishing and managing a criminal organization, accepting bribes, extorting money, and rigging the tender process. A Turkish court on Sunday ordered the arrest of Imamoglu and his detention pending the outcome of the corruption case. Imamoglu has been denying the allegations against him.
Along with Istanbul, thousands of people demonstrated in Ankara and Izmir. International media have reported that the security forces have severely suppressed the largest demonstration in Turkey in the past few years. The participants of the demonstration raised slogans of 'rights, law and justice'. BBC reported that the participants in the
demonstration said that they did not participate in the demonstration for the defense of democracy, not because they are supporters of political reasons or the opposition. Most of them say that they are fighting for a credible future and are ready to be arrested for that.
In Turkey, Imamoglu is considered one of Erdogan's most powerful political rivals. He is one of more than a hundred people, including other politicians, journalists and businessmen, arrested for investigation.
A day before the arrest, Istanbul University announced the cancellation of Imamoglu's degree due to alleged irregularities. It is assumed that this action was taken to prevent him from being a presidential candidate. According to the Turkish constitution, presidents must have completed higher education to hold office.
Erdogan has been holding the responsibilities of both the Prime Minister and the President of Turkey for the past 22 years. But due to term limits, he cannot be a candidate again in 2028 unless the constitution is changed.
