Prodemocratic demonstrators return to the streets of Istanbul for a huge rally

Hundreds of thousands of democracy demonstrators have returned to the streets of Istanbul, Turkey, in support of the city mayor of the city.

Ekrem Imamoglu, who is regarded as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s main rival, was arrested on corruption charges last week, provoking mass protests.

He denies the allegations and claims that his arrest is politically motivated.

The crowds on Saturday were so big that they spilled from the protest site in a neighboring park. The chairman of the Republican People’s Party of Imamoglu (CHP) addressed demonstrators, reading a letter from the closed politician, which is being held in seclusion.

“I have no fear, you are behind me and next to me. I have no fear because the nation is united. The nation is united against the oppressor,” the letter said according to Reuters.

Imamoglu’s wife, Dilek, was also on the protest and said to the crowd, “We will continue to fight and fight.”

The protesters waved the red and white flags of Turkey and chanted: “Rights, law, justice!”

Imamoglu has been mayor of Istanbul since 2019 and won a huge victory in the mayor election last year.

He is widely regarded as the only Turkish politician capable of provoking Erdogan and his party for justice and development – also known as AK – on the urn.

A series of protests on democracy covered the country after the arrest of Imamoglu more than a week ago.

While the demonstration on Saturday was calm, the earlier protests collide with heavy police tactics that fired tears and rubber bullets.

Nearly 2000 people have been arrested, including some journalists who reflect the protests.

This includes BBC correspondent Mark Lowen who has been deported after the state claims that he lacks the correct accreditation of the pressS

Erdogan claims protests representing “street terrorism”accusing demonstrators of attacking police and damaging public property.

There are fears that Imamoglu will not face a free and honest process when his case is heard in court.

The government has denied the arrest of Imamoglu to be politically motivated and insists that the Turkish courts be completely independent.