Decision to jail Erdogan\u2019s main political rival comes after actions against him were criticised by many
\n Istanbul
\nA Turkish court jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on Sunday pending trial on graft charges, state media and other broadcasters said, in a move likely to stoke the country\u2019s biggest protests against President Tayyip Erdogan\u2019s government in more than a decade.
\nThe decision to send Imamoglu, Erdogan\u2019s main political rival, to prison comes after the main opposition party, European leaders and tens of thousands of protesters criticised the actions against him as politicised and undemocratic.
\nThe court said Imamoglu, 54, and at least 20 others were jailed as part of a corruption investigation, one of two that were opened against him last week.
\nThe court decided to release the mayor under judicial control measures over a separate terror-related charge, broadcasters Halk TV and AHaber reported, potentially blocking the government from appointing a trustee to run the country\u2019s largest city.
\nImamoglu, who leads Erdogan in some polls, has denied the charges, calling them \u201cunimaginable accusations and slanders\u201d.
\nAlso on Sunday members of is Republican People\u2019s Party (CHP), the main opposition against Erdogan\u2019s ruling alliance, and others were voting to select Imamoglu as the CHP\u2019s candidate for the next presidential election.
\nNo general election is scheduled until 2028. But if Erdogan, who has led Turkiye for 22 years, is to run again, parliament would need to back an earlier election since the president will have reached his limit by that date.
\nAnkara Mayor Mansur Yavas, also of the CHP, told reporters on Sunday that jailing Imamoglu is a disgrace to the judicial system.
\nThe government denies that investigations are politically motivated and says courts are independent. It has warned against protests, especially given a nationwide ban on street gatherings that was extended on Saturday for four more days.
\nOn Saturday, thousands gathered outside the Istanbul municipality building and the main courthouse, with hundreds of police stationed at both locations using tear gas and pepper spray pellets to disperse protesters, as the crowd hurled firecrackers and other objects at them.
\nThough most demonstrations have been peaceful, protesters also clashed with police in the western coastal province of Izmir and the capital Ankara for a third night in a row, with police firing water cannons at the crowds.
\nTurkish authorities have detained 323 people during protests over the investigation, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said early on Sunday.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Decision to jail Erdogan\u2019s main political rival comes after actions against him were criticised by many Istanbul A Turkish court jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on Sunday pending trial on graft charges, state media and other broadcasters said, in a move likely to stoke the country\u2019s biggest protests against President Tayyip Erdogan\u2019s government in more […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":468793,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-468802","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n