Turkey jails Istanbul mayor before trial, protests rage throughout city

Turkish court on Sunday Istanbul mayor sentenced to jail President Tayyip Erdogan’s main political rival, Ekrem Imamoglu, has been tried on corruption charges that could incite the country’s biggest protests in more than a decade.

The decision to send Imamogru to prison was after the main opposition party European Leader Thousands of protesters criticized the actions targeting him as politicized and undemocratic.

As the court develops, there are signs that the mayor’s trouble is against the objection of the Erdogan government, who has been operating in Türkiye for 22 years.

Thousands of Republican People’s Party (CHP) members and non-members flocked to polling stations nationwide to elect their candidates with a future presidential vote.

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Non-member votes will be closely watched to show how much support the popular Imamoglu enjoys outside the loyal parties.

Imamoglu denied the allegations he faced as “unthinkable allegations and defamation” and called for nationwide protests on Sunday. “We will tear this coup and figure this dark stain on our democracy together,” he said.

The video shows what the broadcaster said was that he was taken to the Silivery Prison in the police convoy.

Imamogru was removed from office along with two other mayors, a statement from the Interior Ministry said.

The government denied that the investigation was politically motivated and said the court was independent.

The nationwide ban on street gatherings has been extended for four days, but protests and Skip conflict with police All night in major cities.

On Sunday and early Sunday, thousands crowded outside the court, awaiting a ruling on Imamogru.

The court said Imamoglu, 54, and at least 20 people were sentenced to jail as part of a corruption investigation that opened one of two people last week.

It said he was arrested for “establishing and leading criminal organizations, accepting bribes, embezzlement of public funds, illegally recording personal data, and public tenders related to financial investigations”.

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The one-month legal crackdown on the number of jails on opposition and other elected officials has been striking for a month, with critics saying the government attempted to hurt its election prospects.

Six of CHP’s 27 mayors are now being arrested – the opposition handed over Erdogan’s AK party to the worst election defeat in municipal elections.

CHP opened the party’s polling station to non-members on Sunday to hold a “uniform vote” for Imamoglu, the only name in the presidential candidate’s vote.

CHP Chairman Ozgur Ozel predicted millions of votes from non-members, saying Imamoglu was “leading to prison, but also holding the presidency.”

The general election is not planned until 2028.

But if Erdogan, 71, is Lead Türkiye To run again for 22 years, parliament will need to support earlier elections, as the president will reach its limit by that date. In some opinion polls, Imamoglu leads Erdogan.

Imamoglu also faces terrorism charges, but the court has not formally arrested him at the same time.

Future rulings imprison him as a trial on allegations related to terrorism, which could allow the government to appoint a trustee to run Istanbul. A conviction could prevent him from running for president.

The Centre for Health Protection said this would appeal the ruling and select someone to serve as acting mayor.

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Shortly after the court ruling, the mayor vowed to eventually defeat Erdogan and said those who conducted the investigation would be held accountable.

“Imamoglu has become Erdogan’s nightmare,” opposition supporter Mehmet Karatas said outside the court. “We will be President of Ekrem Imamoglu.”

Imamoglu’s detention has swept the market since Wednesday, with Turkish lira, stocks and bonds falling significantly. Analysts expect more sales pressure after being sentenced to jail.

Türkiye’s Central Bank Governor Fatih Karahan met with members of the board of directors of the Turkish Banking Association (TBB) on Sunday.

The central bank will effectively and decisively use all the tools in the market rules to maintain stability, TBB said.

Civil disobedience has been confined to Turkey since Gezi Park protested against Erdogan’s government nationwide, prompting Violent suppression.

However, on Saturday night, thousands of people gathered again outside the Istanbul Municipal Building and the main court building. Hundreds of police officers used tear gas and pepper spray to disperse protesters as the crowd threw firecrackers and other objects.

Although most of the demonstrations were peaceful, protesters also clashed with the western coastal Izmir province and the capital Ankara, and police opened fire for the third night in a row.

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Authorities detained more than 300 people during the protests.

Other reports by Huseyin Hayatsever, Mert Ozkan and Mehmet Emin Caliskan; written by Jonathan Spicer; edited by Daniel Wallis, William Mallard, David Goodman, Alison Williams and Giles Elgood