Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu appeared before police on Saturday for a second day of interrogation on serious criminal charges.
Authorities questioned him for five hours over alleged support for the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
A day earlier, police had already interrogated Imamoglu for four hours on separate corruption allegations.
Officers arrested the mayor on Wednesday in a dawn raid at his home, triggering widespread protests across Turkey.
He denies all accusations and continues to claim political motives behind the investigation and detention.
Imamoglu’s Arrest Fuels Political Tensions and Public Outcry
Many protesters view Imamoglu’s detention as a deliberate attempt to sideline a key challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The arrest came just days before Imamoglu was expected to be nominated as the opposition CHP’s presidential candidate.
As tensions rose, Turkish officials closed nearby roads and deployed a large police presence around the courthouse on Saturday.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that police detained 343 protesters across Turkey on Friday night alone.
He warned that authorities “will not tolerate efforts to incite chaos or threaten public order.”
Despite the clampdown, protests continue to grow, reflecting mounting frustration over political repression.
Police Confront Demonstrators with Force Amid Rising Clashes
On Friday, hundreds of demonstrators in Istanbul tried to push through police barricades near the city’s historic aqueduct.
Police responded with tear gas, pepper spray, and rubber bullets as protesters hurled flares and stones at officers.
Officials insist the courts act independently and reject claims that legal cases against opposition figures serve political aims.
However, growing crowds and international observers question whether the actions target dissent and potential electoral rivals.
Imamoglu’s popularity and rising influence make him a formidable opponent in the 2028 presidential election.
His detention has now become a flashpoint for broader democratic concerns in Turkey.