On March 23, 2025, Ekrem İmamoğlu, the Mayor of Istanbul and a prominent opposition leader from Turkey’s Republican People’s Party (CHP), was arrested on corruption charges with dubious evidence. His arrest followed his detention on March 19 and the cancellation of his bachelor’s degree by Turkish authorities on March 18. In addition, several other opposition figures were detained, including Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Secretary General Mahir Polat, Beylikdüzü Mayor Murat Çalık, and Şişli Mayor Resul Emrah Şahan.

These actions came shortly after İmamoğlu and the CHP signaled their strong intention to announce his candidacy for the 2028 Turkish presidential elections. İmamoğlu, known for defeating the ruling party candidates in two successive mayoral elections—and a rerun—is widely viewed as a strong challenger to President Erdoğan.

His arrest triggered widespread demonstrations across the country, with hundreds of thousands taking to the streets in protest. Many view the charges as politically motivated, aimed at silencing a key opposition figure. In response to the protests, Turkish authorities used force against demonstrators and detained thousands of individuals since Wednesday, including many students and journalists. This was followed by a ban on the opposition media.

The situation received sharp criticism from international actors. Numerous states and human rights organizations have condemned the Turkish government’s actions. Amnesty International and United Nations human rights experts have accused the government of systematically using the Anti-Terror Law and Penal Code to suppress political dissent and peaceful protest.

The government actions raise serious concerns about the independence of the judiciary, the rule of law, and widespread human rights violations in Turkey—including arbitrary detention, torture, media censorship, restrictions on freedom of expression, and violations of the right to peaceful protest.