ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Protesters near Istanbul's main police headquarters on Wednesday said the detention of President Tayyip Erdogan's main political rival and the city's mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was a blow to Turkish democracy.
Earlier on Wednesday, Turkish authorities detained Imamoglu, from main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), on charges including corruption and aiding a terrorist group, prompting the protests and outcry from opposition, government critics.
More than 100 people gathered near the police headquarters, where Imamoglu was taken after being detained, chanting support for the mayor and anti-government slogans.
"They are conducting a coup right now against Imamoglu, who beat Erdogan four times at the ballot box since 2019 with the will of the nation," said Bulent Gulten, a protester, referring to 2019 and 2024 nationwide municipal elections when Imamoglu's CHP defeated Erdogan by sweeping most major cities.
"Today, the Turkish nation will once again unite against those who betray democracy and the national will. Ekrem Imamoglu is growing and gaining strength in the eyes of the people," he said.
Security forces barricaded the streets leading to the police headquarters, with riot police and water cannon trucks blocking the roads as the Istanbul governor's office banned all public gatherings after Imamoglu's detention.
"We came here to support the mayor. They arrested him unjustly. So we are here to support him," Murat Sapankaya, a municipal worker attending the protest said.
Imamoglu, 54, has ramped up his criticism of Erdogan and his government in recent months, prompting a wave of legal moves and indictments against him. He said on Wednesday he would not give up and would continue standing up against the pressure.
"We actually predicted that Imamoglu would soon go through such a detention process. We are all here until the decision is changed and justice is served," said Yilmaz Arslan, another protester.
(Writing by Ezgi Erkoyun; Editing by Tuvan Gumrukcu and Angus MacSwan)
