Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets outside Istanbul City Hall for consecutive nights following the arrest of Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu on March 19.
Braving a government ban on public gatherings, supporters have rallied in defiance, labeling the charges against him as politically motivated and designed to silence a key opposition leader.
İmamoğlu, a prominent figure in Turkish politics and a vocal critic of the ruling government was detained amid allegations that many of his backers dismiss as baseless. “This is a blatant attack on democracy,” one demonstrator told reporters, echoing a widespread belief that the arrest is an attempt to neutralize a popular rival ahead of future elections.
The protests come amid heightened tension in Turkey, with authorities also announcing a ban on short-selling stocks this week. Short-selling—a practice in which traders borrow shares from a broker and sell them immediately, betting on a price drop—has been outlawed as the government scrambles to steady financial markets rattled by the political upheaval.
As crowds swell and chants grow louder, the standoff in Istanbul shows no signs of easing, raising questions about the country’s political and economic stability in the days ahead.
Sources: TACC, Financial Times