Thousands of people gathered on Istanbul's streets on Thursday to protest the arrest of the city's mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu. Known as a key opposition figure and a possible rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Imamoglu's detention has triggered a political uproar across Turkiye, according to ANI, citing France 24.

However, authorities quickly responded to the unrest by closing key roads, limiting access to popular social media platforms, and imposing a four-day ban on demonstrations to prevent public gatherings. Despite these efforts, the crowd remained undeterred. According to the report, large crowds of protesters gathered outside Istanbul’s police headquarters, City Hall and the central office of Imamoglu’s Republican People’s Party (CHP). They expressed their anger, demanded justice, and claimed the allegations were "unlawful" and "baseless." Protesters also described the arrest as a setback to democracy, according to France 24. 

"This is not democracy. It’s a sham of democracy. The people do not deserve this. We are upset of course. As humans, we are upset," he told France 24. Riot police sealed off roads leading to the Vatan Security Department, where the mayor was taken after his arrest. Imamoglu, a well-known opposition leader and a key rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was among 100 people arrested, including several prominent figures, according to France 24. 

Imamoglu and his aides are accused of corruption charges, including extortion and fraud, along with allegedly supporting the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is recognised as a terrorist organisation by Ankara, Washington, and other Turkish allies. His arrest is part of a wider crackdown on opposition figures, criticised as politically driven and aimed at suppressing dissent. Just a day before his arrest, Istanbul University revoked the Mayor's bachelor's degree, which is required to contest elections under Turkish law.