Opposition mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was removed from his duties and detained earlier today (23/3/25) on charges of ‘corruption,’ four days after his arrest, which sparked a wave of protests across Turkey not seen in 12 years. Imamoglu, the main rival of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, along with many co-defendants, as reported by his party and Turkish media, has become a focal point for dissent against the government. Protests continued into another night, with clashes and tear gas used by police. The first images of the evening’s incidents have gone global, showing unrest in the streets. Imamoglu criticized the ‘unethical and baseless’ accusations against him and called for national resistance. A judge ordered his detention this morning, described as a ‘political coup’ by the Republican People’s Party (CHP), to which Imamoglu belongs. Lawyers announced they would appeal the decision. While the judge ordered his detention for ‘corruption,’ no such action was taken regarding the separate charge of ‘terrorism.’ As he heads to jail, Imamoglu is also on the path to becoming the CHP’s presidential candidate for the 2028 elections. The party extended voting hours during internal primaries, hoping to transform the event into a nationwide referendum. Thousands gather nightly outside the municipal building, voicing support. Despite government measures to prevent unrest, protests continue, reaching levels unseen since the 2013 Gezi Park demonstrations. President Erdogan vowed not to yield to ‘street intimidation,’ while European capitals condemned the arrest.