Large crowds rally in Istanbul over jailing of Erdogan's main rival

Mass demonstrations in Istanbul after mayor's arrest, challenging Erdogan in next election, biggest protests in a decade.

Hundreds of thousands of Turks protested in Istanbul on Saturday (March 29, 2025) against the jailing of Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, President Tayyip Erdogan's main rival, sustaining the largest demonstrations Turkiye has seen in more than a decade.

A letter from Mr. Imamoglu was read out at the rally to cheers from the crowd. "I have no fear, you are behind me and by my side. I have no fear because the nation is united. The nation is united against the oppressor," the letter said.

"They can put me in jail and try me as much as they want, the nation has shown that it will crush all traps and plots."

Hundreds of thousands of Turks nationwide have heeded opposition calls to protest since Imamoglu was detained last week and then jailed pending trial on graft charges.

Protests have been mostly peaceful but nearly 2,000 people have been detained.

The main opposition, the Republican People's Party (CHP), other opposition parties, rights groups and some Western powers have all said the case against Imamoglu is a politicised effort to eliminate a potential electoral threat to Mr. Erdogan.

The government denies any influence over the judiciary and says the courts are independent.