Istanbul saw a significant turnout on Saturday as tens of thousands gathered to protest the imprisonment of mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a prominent rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

This event has been characterized as one of the largest protests in Turkey in over ten years.

Imamoglu was arrested last week and subsequently sentenced to prison on corruption charges, prompting a wave of opposition-led protests across the country that have mobilized hundreds of thousands of people.

While many demonstrations have remained peaceful, reports indicate that nearly 2,000 individuals have been arrested amid the unrest.

The Republican People’s Party (CHP), along with various rights organizations and international observers, allege that the corruption charges are politically motivated, aimed at diminishing a significant electoral contender for Erdogan ahead of future elections.

The Turkish government, however, maintains that it has no influence over judicial proceedings and asserts that the courts function independently.

Thousands, carrying Turkish flags and protest banners, assembled at Maltepe's rally grounds on Istanbul's Asian side for the “Freedom for Imamoglu” event organized by the CHP. Messages from participants highlighted concerns over justice and economic conditions.

One CHP supporter expressed, “The trend of the economy, the trend of justice, law – everything is getting worse.

We say ‘rights, law and justice’ and we are seeking our rights.”

In a related development, the CHP conducted a primary election the previous Sunday to select Imamoglu as its candidate for the presidential election scheduled for 2028, although the party is calling for an earlier electoral process, arguing that the current government lacks legitimacy.

In response to the mass protests, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya reported that approximately 1,900 individuals had been detained since the protests began, with 260 of them held in custody awaiting trial as of Thursday.

President Erdogan has dismissed the demonstrations as mere political theatrics, warning of potential legal consequences for those inciting unrest and urging the CHP to stop provoking public sentiment.

The economic implications of Imamoglu's arrest have been pronounced, as Turkish financial markets experienced a sharp decline in response to the political crisis, forcing the central bank to tap into reserves to stabilize the national currency, the lira.

The government has downplayed the potential impact on the economy, noting that the fundamental economic conditions remain unchanged, though they stand ready to implement further measures if necessary.