FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE – Tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered in Istanbul on Wednesday to protest the imprisonment of Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a key opposition figure and potential challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Ozgur Ozel addressed the crowd, calling the demonstration a fight for democracy and freedom.
Imamoglu was arrested on March 19 on corruption charges, which he has denied. His detention has sparked widespread protests, with critics calling the case politically motivated.
His arrest comes as opinion polls show his popularity rising, reinforcing his position as Erdogan’s main rival in any future presidential election.