Mayor

İmamoğlu’s arrest has been widely viewed as politically motivated and sparked demonstrations in cities across the country, some of which have turned violent.

Prosecutors accuse İmamoğlu of exploiting his position for financial gain, including the improper allocation of government contracts.

The Republican People’s Party, Turkey’s main opposition party, condemned the arrest as politically motivated, with Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu calling it an attempt to sway public opinion.