Istanbul, Turkey - March 19, 2025 Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu was detained this morning after his house was raided due to two separate investigations opened against him. İmamoğlu, the strongest candidate against President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, was going to be the presidential candidate of the main opposition party, the Republican People's Party (CHP), in the upcoming election. In order to prevent İmamoğlu from running, the government first launched an investigation into İmamoğlu's university degree. Istanbul University also canceled İmamoğlu's degree. This morning, 86 people, including Ekrem İmamoğlu, some Istanbul district mayors, municipal council members, heads of organizations affiliated with the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and journalists, were detained. The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office issued a 4-day detention order. CHP members and members of other parties and NGOs who wanted to protest the decision wanted to go to the Istanbul Police Department on Vatan Street. The police closed the roads leading to the police station and took extensive security measures. The Istanbul Governor's Office also banned all protests in Istanbul for 4 days. Thousands of people gathered near the police building and marched to the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality building in Saraçhane. Protesters frequently chanted slogans such as "Dictator Erdoğan", "Government resign", and "Ekrem İmamoğlu is not alone".