Turkey's main opposition party, the Republican People's Party (CHP) organized the demonstration, the latest in a series of protests that resulted in hundreds of detentions and have turned up the pressure on the country's long-time leader,

The city’s mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, a rival to President Recep Erdogan, was detained on March 19 on corruption and terrorism charges.

Demonstrators gathered in support of opposition leader Ekrem Imamoglu, who says his arrest was politically motivated.

Analysts say a convergence of international factors gave Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan the opportunity to try to neutralize Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, the main threat to him in elections due to be held in 2028.

Hundreds of thousands of protesters have congregated in Istanbul to how their support for the city's imprisoned mayor and demand his release. Turkey's main opposition party, the Republican People's Party (CHP) organised the demonstration,

Turkish state media accused of concealing reality of mass anti-Erdogan protests - Independent and opposition media outlets have shared footage of the Turkey protests despite threats that they may lose