Turkey's opposition parties are ramping up efforts to maintain nationwide protests sparked by the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on corruption charges, as authorities report nearly 1,900 detentions in recent weeks. The Republican People's Party (CHP) organized a massive rally in Istanbul on Saturday, drawing hundreds of thousands demanding the mayor's release, in what analysts call the most significant anti-government demonstrations since the 2013 Gezi Park protests.
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed Thursday that 260 detainees remain jailed pending trial. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan dismissed the protests as "a show" while warning of legal actions against organizers. The tensions coincide with Turkey's Eid al-Fitr holiday period marking Ramadan's end, with opposition leaders vowing to adapt their strategy through localized gatherings across the country's 81 provinces.
CHP leader Özgür Özel announced new weekly protest rotations, telling supporters: "We will bring our cause to every corner of the homeland." İmamoğlu, communicating via lawyers from Silivri prison, urged supporters: "We will definitely find a way to be together!" International observers note the protests highlight growing political polarization ahead of key municipal elections.
