The Latest Breaking News from Istanbul

Istanbul mayor has become the only politician capable of challenging Erdoğan at the ballot box

There is currently no obstacle for İmamoğlu, who was announced as the CHP's presidential candidate, to be elected despite his arrest.

Despite the crackdown, opposition activists promise to ‘not back down’, urging more people to take to streets.

Turkey is in turmoil after Istanbul’s mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, a leading opposition figure and potential challenger to Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, was arrested on March 19 on charges of corruption.

The mass protests triggered by Ekrem İmamoğlu's arrest come as the EU tries to deepen its engagement with Turkey over Syria and Ukraine.

The European Union called on Turkey to "uphold democratic values" after police detained more than 1,100 people during five days of protests. The uprising was sparked by last week's arrest of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's main rival and mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu.

The embattled mayor of Istanbul is the opposition party’s candidate for the next presidential election.

Authorities ask X to block accounts as tens of thousands take to streets in largest anti-government protests in years

More than 1,100 people have been arrested as tens of thousands have taken to the streets to protest against the arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu on corruption charges decried as politically motivated

Turkey is cracking down on large protests triggered by the arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu, Istanbul Mayor and rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Police and protesters clashed in Istanbul as tensions escalated following the detention of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s main political rival in the 2028 election.