In the aftermath of the detention of Istanbul mayor Ekram Imamoglu on corruption and terrorism charges, students at universities in Istanbul have taken to the streets to stage sit-in protests. The mayor, who is a leading challenger to President Erdogan of Turkey, was arrested along with over a hundred others, including his advisers and municipal officials.
Imamoglu’s arrest has been widely viewed as politically motivated, with accusations of corruption and aiding the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leveled against him. The charges include being a member of a criminal organization, extortion, bribery, fraud, and illegally obtaining personal data.
As a popular member of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), Imamoglu is seen as a credible challenger to President Erdogan’s longstanding grip on Turkish politics. In response to his arrest, Imamoglu has urged judges and prosecutors to speak out against those who are “ruining the judiciary”.
The student-led sit-in protests in Istanbul are a show of solidarity with Imamoglu and a demonstration of the growing discontent with the current political climate in Turkey. As tensions escalate, the country waits to see how this latest development will impact the future of Turkish politics.
For more information, you can visit The Times website: https://www.thetimes.com/article/4ded201d-8047-4cec-a3cd-fccc84dd15ea.
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Video “LIVE: Istanbul students stage sit-in protest in Turkey” was uploaded on 03/21/2025 to Youtube Channel The Times and The Sunday Times