Turkey protests: Pro-democracy demonstrators return to Istanbul's streets for huge rally

Demonstrators called for democracy to be defended after the arrest of opposition leader Ekrem Imamoglu.

British Broadcasting CorporationWatch LiveHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsArts in MotionTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingAudioPodcastsRadioAudio FAQsVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveWeatherNewslettersProtesters return to Istanbul's streets for huge rally18 hours agoShareSaveAnna LamcheBBC NewsShareSaveReutersHundreds of thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators have returned to the streets of Istanbul, Turkey, to show support for the city's jailed mayor.

Ekrem Imamoglu, who is seen as the main rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was arrested on corruption charges last week, sparking mass protests.

He denies the charges and says his arrest was politically motivated.

Saturday's crowds were so large they spilled from the site of the protest into a neighbouring park. The chairman of Imamoglu's Republican People's Party (CHP) addressed demonstrators, reading out a letter from the jailed politician who is being held in solitary confinement.

"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," Imamoglu said in the letter.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g3eer4737o

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