ISTANBUL: Hundreds of thousands of Turks protested in Istanbul on Saturday against the jailing of Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, President Tayyip Erdogan’s main rival, sustaining the largest demonstrations Turkiye has seen in more than a decade.

A letter from Imamoglu was read out at the rally to cheers from the crowd. “I have no fear, you are behind me and by my side. I have no fear because the nation is united. The nation is united against the oppressor,” the letter said.

“They can put me in jail and try me as much as they want, the nation has shown that it will crush all traps and plots.” Hundreds of thousands of Turks nationwide have heeded opposition calls to protest since Imamoglu was detained last week and then jailed pending trial on graft charges.

Protests have been mostly peaceful but nearly 2,000 people have been detained. The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), other opposition parties, rights groups and some Western powers have all said the case against Imamoglu is a politicised effort to eliminate a potential electoral threat to Erdogan. The government denies any influence over the judiciary and says the courts are independent.

Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators waving Turkish flags and banners flocked to the sea-front rally at Maltepe on the Asian side of Istanbul for Saturday’s “Freedom for Imamoglu” rally, organised by the CHP. Police imposed tight security around a venue where opposition supporters were gathering.

“If justice is silent, the people will speak,” said one banner held aloft in the crowd. “I am not afraid, and I will continue to resist.

‘‘I call on everyone not to be afraid .... They fired me (from my job) but one day, justice will be served,” said Gunay Yildiz, a former employee of Istanbul’s Esenyurt municipality.

Published in Dawn, March 30th, 2025