Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: One martyr reported in Israeli drone strike targeting motorcycle in Ain Qana.
Israeli media: Sirens sound in Nahal Oz settlement in Gaza Envelope.
Syria: Local sources report that General Security forces targeted the camp of French fighters from the 'al-Ghuraba division' in the Idlib countryside with mortar and tank shells.
Syria: Local sources report a general military mobilization of foreign fighters in Idlib following armed clashes in the “French Camp” in the Idlib countryside.
Syria: Local sources report that International Coalition forces carried out an airdrop operation on a house in the village of al-Kassar, eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor.
Local sources: 3 killed, 7 injured in attack on transport bus in Idlib countryside, Syria
The 'French faction' in Idlib announces that Syrian security forces are preparing to attack its camp amid accusations that it is collaborating with ISIS.
Palestinian media: Israeli occupation forces storm the Old City in the center of Nablus, occupied West Bank
Local sources to Al Mayadeen: Sudanese army forces drones strike town of Kabkabiya, North Darfur.
Syrian Observatory: The plane is loaded with air defense systems and heavy weapons as part of US troop reinforcements to its bases in northeastern Syria

Millions demonstrate against Imamoglu arrest in Istanbul

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 29 Mar 2025 15:20
  • 2 Shares
3 Min Read

Some two million people protest in Turkey's Istanbul over the arrest of mayor and presidential candidate Ekrem Imamoglu.

Listen
  • x
  • Supporters wave Turkish and CHP party flags during a rally protesting the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu in Istanbul, Turkiye, Saturday, March 29, 2025 (AP)
    Supporters wave Turkish and CHP party flags during a rally protesting the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu in Istanbul, Turkiye, Saturday, March 29, 2025 (AP)

The Republican People’s Party (CHP) organized a massive demonstration in Maltepe Square, Istanbul, on Saturday to protest the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.

According to Al Mayadeen’s Turkiye bureau chief, Saturday's protest marks the largest demonstration since March 19, with CHP leader Ozgur Ozel stating that over 2.2 million people had gathered in Istanbul.

“This is about Turkiye’s future”

Addressing the crowd, CHP’s Istanbul branch head Ugur Celik emphasized that the protests are not just about Imamoglu but about "the entire country and the future of Turkiye."

"Erdogan refuses to hear the voices of young people. He gives unlawful orders and avoids responsibility. He even blames external forces, interest rate lobbies, farmers, traders, and even grocery store and bakery owners for the economic crisis he created," Celik said in his speech.

He then read a letter from Imamoglu, in which the imprisoned mayor declared: "I have committed no crime, and I am proud of what I have done as mayor. I do not need to prove my innocence—Erdogan is the one who must prove his. He is orchestrating a political conspiracy against me and hiding behind secret witnesses."

Related News

Turkey's Imamoglu warns of democratic crisis if barred from election

Istanbul mayor Imamoglu sentenced as Erdogan intensifies crackdown

Widespread protests, opposition mobilized

Since Imamoglu’s imprisonment, mass protests have erupted across multiple Turkish cities, with opposition groups condemning the arrest as a direct attack on political freedoms.

The opposition-controlled Istanbul city council recently elected Nuri Aslan as the temporary mayor to manage city affairs until further legal developments.

Imamoglu was jailed pending trial on corruption charges, which he and his supporters vehemently deny, calling them politically motivated. His arrest has galvanized Turkiye’s opposition, sparking student movements and nationwide demonstrations.

His detention and the consequent protest have led to a harsh government crackdown, drawing sharp condemnation from human rights organizations and international criticism.

Escalating arrests campaign

Turkiye escalated its arrest campaign on Friday, arresting a lawyer and several journalists as the wave of protests continued for the second week.

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu's lawyer, Mehmet Pehlivan, was arrested in an overnight raid on Thursday, prompting Imamoglu to claim that Pehlivan was "detained on fictitious grounds," in a post on X published by his legal team.

Turkish authorities have arrested more than 1,400 people protesting Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu's arrest, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced on Tuesday. 

It is worth noting that in Istanbul, at least 511 students were detained, many during predawn raids, with 275 of them being jailed, according to lawyer Ferhat Guzel, who acknowledged that the actual number was "probably much higher."

The authorities have also intensified their crackdown on media coverage, arresting 13 Turkish journalists in just five days, deporting a BBC correspondent, and detaining a Swedish reporter who arrived in Istanbul to report on the unrest.

  • Turkiye
  • Ekrem Imamoglu
  • Istanbul
  • Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Most Read

Yemeni Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari , during a ceremony in an undisclosed locations in Yemen, undate (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemeni Armed Forces mourn martyred Chief of Staff al-Ghamari

  • Politics
  • 16 Oct 2025
How an Israeli-backed firm spied on US churches to push propaganda

How an Israeli-backed firm spied on US churches to push propaganda

  • Politics
  • 15 Oct 2025
From previous scenes of the Qassam Brigades targeting an Israeli D9 bulldozer with a Yassin 105 shell, east of Deir al-Balah. (Military Media of the Qassam Brigades)

US knew fatal Rafah blast cause was not Hamas op., says journalist

  • Politics
  • 20 Oct 2025
Smoke and fire rises after 'Israel' launched airstrikes on the village of Ansar, Lebanon, October 16, 2025 (social media)

'Israel' launches two waves of brutal strikes on east, south Lebanon

  • Politics
  • 16 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
An Israeli settler stands over a woman who was harvesting olives after assaulting her, October 19, 2025 (social media)
Politics

West Bank sees 757 Israeli settler attacks in one year

The OpenAI logo appears on a mobile phone in front of a screen showing part of the company website in this photo taken on Nov. 21, 2023 (AP)
Technology

OpenAI unveils new search browser built around chatGPT

White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, from right, and War Secretary Pete Hegseth listen as President Donald Trump meets in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Monday, October 20, 2025, in Washington (AP)
Politics

‘Your mom’ politics take over Trump administration

Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem during a public address on October 21, 2025 (Screengrab)
Politics

Sheikh Qassem: Lebanon stability depends on ending Israeli aggression

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS