Hundreds of thousands have taken to the streets across Turkey to protest the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a key political rival of President Tayyip Erdogan. Imamoglu was detained last week on corruption charges, which he denies.
The protests, the largest in a decade, have led to clashes with police and over 340 arrests. Erdogan dismissed the demonstrations as a “show” that will “fizzle out,” while critics accuse his government of suppressing opposition.
The unrest has also impacted Turkey’s economy, with the lira weakening. Internationally, leaders like Germany’s Olaf Scholz have condemned the arrest, calling it a threat to democracy.
