Thousands of supporters of jailed Turkish opposition politician Ekrem Imamoglu gathered at Istanbul’s Sarachane Square on Wednesday to mark the one-year anniversary of his arrest and the start of nationwide protests.
Imamoglu, the former mayor of Istanbul and seen as a potential challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, had his university degree revoked on March 18, 2025, and was arrested on terrorism and corruption charges a day later. He was officially removed from the mayoralty on March 23 and has spent the past year in pre-trial detention in Istanbul’s Silivri district.
His trial, which finally began earlier this month, sees prosecutors seeking a sentence of 2,430 years.
“The aim of this case is not to seek the truth or to ensure justice, but to escape the anxiety of electoral defeat,” Imamoglu said in a message read at the rally, organized by the Republican People’s Party (CHP). The message described the closed-door trial as “the product of a corrupt mindset that is mortally afraid of free and fair elections and has taken refuge behind the judiciary to eliminate its political rival.”
CHP leader Ozgur Ozel, who attended the demonstration, claimed “hundreds of thousands” were present — an exaggerated figure — but thousands chanted slogans such as “President Imamoglu!” and “Tayyip, resign!” while waving flags and banners amid a heavy police presence. Ozel called Imamoglu’s detention a “civil coup” and declared, “Who said we stayed silent? Who said we gave up and surrendered?” alongside Imamoglu’s wife. “Here are the ones who did not surrender, here are the ones who resist,” he said.
Since the CHP’s decisive local election victory in March 2024 over Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP), the party has faced a sweeping legal crackdown. Imamoglu is one of fifteen CHP mayors currently jailed.
At the rally, supporters voiced frustration and determination. “Imamoglu was a presidential candidate and he was one step ahead,” a 63-year-old woman told AFP. “He’s been in jail for a year for no reason… It’s all political.” A 39-year-old man said he saw little hope of Imamoglu being allowed to run: “He is Erdogan’s biggest rival. They will hold him back and keep him isolated. [But] we’ll use every opportunity we get. We chose him. We cannot just leave him in prison like this.”
Analysts say Imamoglu almost certainly will not be able to contest the next presidential election, scheduled for May 2028 at the latest. Even if cleared of graft charges, a separate lawsuit challenges the validity of his university degree, a constitutional requirement for candidates. With Imamoglu likely barred, CHP leader Ozel is expected to emerge as the party’s likely presidential candidate.
Edited by: Dmytro Hubenko