Istanbul is in disarray as more than 1,100 people have been detained after the prison sentences were handed to Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a prominent opponent of President Tayyip Erdogan. The highly politicized decision has sparked the biggest wave of protests in Turkey in the aftermath of the 2013 Gezi Park protests.
Imamoglu moved to Silivri jail on March 23, 2025 after a court had accused him of corruption including bribery and embezzlement. Labelling the saturated charges as “uncoordinated accusations and slanders,” Imamoglu summoned thorough-bred protests across the nation, allaying, “We will scrub away this overthrow, this dark stain on our system, collectively.”
Since his arrest on March 19, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced that 1,133 people have been arrested, with 123 police officers injured. The perpetrators, who have been taken into custody, have also been carrying out dangerous materials like firebombs and knife to stage the demonstrations. 
In an act of defiance, the Republican People’s Party (CHP) organized polling stations for non-members to cast “solidarity votes” for Imamoglu as a possible presidential candidate. With over 14.85 million votes cast, CHP Chairman Ozgur Ozel described the turnout as a “firm answer” to the government and demanded early elections.
The political crisis has also sent Turkey’s financial markets into a spin. Turkey’s lira and stocks have plummeted, forcing emergency action from the central bank. The supporters of Erdogan’s opposition, though currently under attack, say they will make Imamoglu the next President of Turkey.
