section_path: Abstract
section_name: Abstract
paragraph_text: On 19 March 2025, Istanbul mayor and presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu from the opposition Republican People's Party was detained by Turkish police on suspicion of corruption, extortion, bribery, money laundering, and supporting terrorism, particularly the PKK.
  
  İmamoğlu was later arrested and sent to Marmara Prison on corruption charges on 23 March 2025. In the 2025 Republican People's Party presidential primary later that day over 15 million people voted in his support. His arrest, along with that of more than 100 other people, caused widespread protests and demonstrations over perceived political motivations.
  
  The Council of Europe, European Parliament and Human Rights Watch strongly condemned the detention of İmamoğlu, describing it as against the will of the people. After the detention, anti-government protests began in Turkey.