Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Al Jazeera
Al Jazeera
Politics
Al Jazeera Staff

Istanbul divided as Erdogan rival’s arrest sparks anti-government protests

A person carries an image depicting Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, as people take part in a protest against his arrest as part of a corruption investigation, in Istanbul, Turkiye, March 25, 2025 [Umit Bektas/Reuters]

Istanbul, Turkiye – The scent of tear gas lingered over Sarachane Square in Istanbul as thousands gathered over the weekend to protest against the arrest of the city’s mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, outside the municipal headquarters.

The popular politician, whom Turkiye’s main opposition party has chosen as its candidate for the next presidential election, was arrested on March 19. Since then, protests have erupted daily, with demonstrators now calling for the government’s resignation.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.