A Turkish court has ordered the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu pending trial, state media reported on Sunday, escalating political tensions after four days of nationwide protests.
The decision to jail Imamoglu—widely seen as President Tayyip Erdogan’s chief political challenger—has been met with strong condemnation from opposition figures and European leaders, who denounce the case as politically motivated.
According to the court, Imamoglu and at least 20 others were taken into custody as part of a corruption probe. A separate ruling related to terror allegations is still pending.
The move has fueled Turkey’s most significant wave of demonstrations in over a decade, with hundreds of protesters detained across the country. While Ankara insists on judicial independence, critics argue the charges are part of a broader crackdown on dissent ahead of upcoming elections.
