A court formally arrested Ekrem Imamoglu, a key rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan early on Sunday and ordered him jailed pending the outcome of a trial on corruption charges. View on euronews

Türkiye has been facing one of its most politically volatile moments in over a decade since the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, the most prominent rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan,

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a potential challenger to longtime President Tayyip Erdogan, appeared in a Turkish court on Saturday for the first time since his detention on Wednesday for alleged corruption and terrorism.

Dilek Imamoglu, the wife of Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul, has played a prominent role in the protests and rallies held since his arrest.

Charged with 'corruption' and 'aiding a terror organization,' the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, seen as the main opposition figure against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, triggered nationwide protests.

People wave flags of Turkey atop a garbage truck during a rally called by the Republican People's Party (CHP) in support of Istanbul's arrested mayor Ekrem Imanoglu in Maltepe, on the outskirts of Istanbul on March 29, 2025 (Angelos Tzortzinis/AFP)