Thousands attend CHP rally in Istanbul against mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu’s arrest

Tens of thousands of people have gathered in Istanbul to protest against the arrest of the city’s mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.

The rally was called by İmamoğlu’s Republican People’s Party (CHP) which has encouraged people to take to the streets across Turkey in a show of anger against an arrest they say is politically motivated.

İmamoğlu, widely seen as the main political challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s 22-year rule,  was jailed on 23 March pending trial on corruption charges.

The government insists the judiciary is independent and free of political interference.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said that nearly 1,900 people have been arrested following mass protests since İmamoğlu’s initial detention on 19 March.

Our journalists are working on this story and will update it as soon as more information becomes available.