Thousands rally in Istanbul for jailed mayor İmamoğlu as political tensions escalate

Thousands of people gathered in central Istanbul on Wednesday in a show of support for jailed mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, marking one year since his arrest in a case that continues to dominate Turkey’s political landscape.

Supporters waving Turkish flags and opposition banners filled the area around the Istanbul municipality building in Saraçhane, a symbolic site that has become the focal point of protests since March 2025. The rally, organised by the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), was accompanied by chants of “Rights, law, justice,” as demonstrators called for the release of the suspended mayor.

Thousands rally in Istanbul to mark year since #Istanbul mayor's arrest. our @AFP story:https://t.co/eBWHCdlOpg pics by @yasinnakgul pic.twitter.com/DxGPIgGaOQ
— Fulya Özerkan (@FulyaOzerkan) March 18, 2026

The protest comes amid a broader judicial crackdown targeting the CHP since late 2024, overshadowing political life ahead of elections widely expected in the coming years. İmamoğlu, the party’s presidential candidate, is currently on trial in multiple cases that could effectively end his political career.

Protest marks turning point in political climate

In a message shared on social media ahead of the rally, İmamoğlu called on supporters to gather “where it all began,” referring to Saraçhane as the epicentre of mass demonstrations following his detention.

Opposition figures have described his arrest as a “coup”, framing the anniversary as a moment of political mobilisation. The demonstrations follow a wave of protests that erupted after his detention last year, described as the largest in Turkey since 2013.

CHP leader Özgür Özel said millions had expressed support for İmamoğlu as a presidential candidate and insisted the party would not withdraw his candidacy despite mounting pressure.

Appearing before the court on 16 March regarding allegations of official document forgery and an invalid university diploma, İmamoğlu rejected the charges against him and argued that the proceedings were politically motivated.

He told the court that the case was not truly about allegations related to his university diploma, but part of a broader effort to sideline him from politics. The charges stem from a decision by Istanbul University to annul his degree, citing an allegedly improper transfer in 1990.

İmamoğlu criticised what he described as violations of the right to a fair trial, including changes to the presiding judge during earlier hearings.

“This is not just a case followed by Turkey, but one watched by the whole world,” he said, calling on the judiciary to restore public trust. He noted that confidence in the judicial system had fallen to 15% and expressed hope that the trial could help reverse that trend.

He also demanded broader access to the proceedings for lawyers, relatives of the accused and journalists, after the court imposed additional restrictions on attendance.

Imamoğlu, leading Erdoğan challenger, faces life imprisonment in politically motivated case

Multiple charges and ongoing investigations

The suspended mayor faces a series of legal cases, including corruption allegations in the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, where prosecutors accuse him of leading a criminal organisation involved in bribery and tender rigging – charges he denies.

The wider case involves more than 400 defendants, including over 100 held in pre-trial detention. Prosecutors are seeking extremely severe penalties, with the indictment listing 142 alleged offences, ranging from forming a criminal organisation and bribery to fraud, extortion and money laundering.

İmamoğlu was detained on 19 March last year, one day after his diploma was annulled, and formally arrested on 23 March 23. He was subsequently suspended from office by the municipal council.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the government have consistently denied any political interference in the judiciary, insisting that courts operate independently.

However, the case has drawn criticism from opposition supporters and rights groups, who argue it reflects a broader erosion of judicial independence in the NATO member state.

Opinion polls suggest that İmamoğlu would perform strongly in a presidential race against Erdoğan, while also pointing to a tight contest between the CHP and the ruling AKP in parliamentary elections.

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Row over justice minister’s assets deepens tensions

Political tensions have been further inflamed by a public dispute between opposition leader Özgür Özel and Justice Minister Akın Gürlek over alleged undeclared assets.

Özel claimed that properties he attributed to Gürlek – including homes and land, were worth a combined 452 million Turkish liras (11.35 million euro), arguing that such wealth could not be accumulated through a judicial salary.

“Even if he didn’t buy a loaf of bread or a bottle of water for nineteen years, his total salary would be 45 million liras. He has acquired more real estate with his salary than he could have bought in 190 years,” Özel said.

Gürlek rejected the allegations as “fake and fabricated,” stating that both he and his wife, who is also a judge, regularly submit asset declarations in line with the law. He added that he owns four properties registered in his name and accused Özel of conducting a “systematic smear campaign.”

The justice minister said he would initiate legal action for moral damages in response to the claims.

Following the allegations, the CHP filed a criminal complaint calling for an investigation into Gürlek’s asset declarations under legislation on combating bribery and corruption.

Sources: Reuters, BGNES, Hurriyet

Caption: Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Ozgur Ozel (C) speaks during a rally to protest the suspension and imprisonment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoglu in front of the Istanbul Courthouse in Istanbul, Turkey, 26 October 2025. Jailed Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was brought to the Istanbul Courthouse to give testimony after being hit by a new charge of espionage. EPA/ERDEM SAHIN