site.btaThousands of Imamoglu Supporters Rally in Istanbul

Supporters of jailed Turkish opposition politician Ekrem Imamoglu gathered on Istanbul's Sarachane Square on Wednesday night to mark the first anniversary of his arrest and the start of nationwide protests.

Hundreds of thousands rallied in support of the former Istanbul mayor. The protest was organized by his Republican People's Party (CHP) under the banner "The People Stand Firm in Their Will" in solidarity with CHP’s presidential candidate Ekrem Imamoglu, opposition Cumhuriyet newspaper reported. 

According to opposition media, which were broadcasting live, the rally was attended by many students and young people, as well as people of various ages and social backgrounds, representatives of political parties, numerous labour unions, and informal organizations.

Hours before the event, several major thoroughfares were closed to traffic, and security measures were stepped up.

Imamoglu who was elected Istanbul mayor for a second term had his university degree revoked on March 18, 2025, before being arrested on terrorism and corruption charges a day later. He was officially removed from the mayoralty on March 23 and has spent the year in pre-trial detention in Istanbul's Silivri district.

Imamoglu's trial finally got underway in March with prosecutors seeking to have him jailed for more than 2000 years. Opposition media call the trial political, Imamoglu’s detention "a coup aimed at removing the CHP from the political scene".

The leader of the opposition CHP Ozgur Ozel said in his speech that Ekrem Imamoglu is the CHP’s candidate for the Turkish presidency in the upcoming elections against Erdogan. In his speech, Ozel criticized the policies of Erdogan and U.S. President Donald Trump regarding Palestine.

Speakers at the rally, including Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavas, CHP Istanbul Provincial head Ozgur Celik, and others, called for a fair trial free of blackmail and provocation, and for the non-interference of politics in the judicial system.

The Cumhuriyet newspaper reported that police used excessive force against young people who had gathered near the rally site and prevented them from entering the square. Thirty five people were detained during the clashes.

Presidential elections in Turkiye are scheduled to take place in May 2028. As Imamoglu’s university degree was revoked before his arrest, he is not eligible to run for president, according to the Turkish constitution. In an unofficial internal election held by the CHP a year ago, Imamoglu received approximately 15 million votes in support of his candidacy for a potential presidential run in future elections.