Turkish prosecutors ask for the imprisonment of the mayor of Istanbul, waiting for terrorism and the trial of corruption

The Imamoglu Office said that the Turkish prosecutors had asked the court to imprison the mayor of Istanbul Ikrim Imamoglu and four of his aides pending his trial on terrorism and charges of corruption, as thousands of country protest against what they call his non -democratic detention.

Imamoglu, a major opposition figure and a potential competitor to President Tayeb Erdogan, was held on Wednesday on charges such as illegal gain and a terrorist group assistant.

He denied the charges, describing them as “unimaginable accusations and conditions.” The court is expected to judge the IMamoglu detention early Sunday.

If IMamoglu is arrested on charges of terrorism, this will allow the government to appoint a municipality’s guardian, according to Turkish law.

On Saturday, thousands of people gathered outside the Istanbul municipality building and a major court, with hundreds of police stationed in both signers using tear gas and spray pepper to disperse the demonstrators, as the crowd threw the fiery joints and other things on them.

The demonstrators also clashed with the police in the western coastal province of Ezer and the capital, Ankara, for a third night in a row, as the police fire the water cannon on the crowd.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said early Sunday that the Turkish authorities detained 323 people during the protests on the investigation.

“No attempt to harm public order is allowed,” the minister said in a statement.

The Republican People’s Party (CHP), the main opposition, condemned the detention as political motives and urged supporters to demonstrate legally.

The government denies any influence over the matter and says that the judiciary is independent.

IMamoglu, 54, who is leading Erdogan in some opinion polls, was scheduled to be named CHP within days.

Watch | Hundreds of gathering to support the mayor of Istanbul, Erdogan’s government protest:

Istanbul demonstrators clash with the police after the arrest of the city’s mayor

After challenging a temporary ban on the demonstrations, hundreds moved to the streets to support Istanbul Mayor Ikram Emamoglu and protest against the Erdogan government.

The following elections were appointed for 2028, but Erdogan reached a period of time as president after he previously held the position of Prime Minister. If he wants to run again, he must contact early elections or change the constitution.

On Saturday, the president, who runs the country for more than 22 years, accused the Republican People’s Party of trying to “provoke our nation”, adding that they would not tolerate sabotage.