Istanbul has seen one of the largest protests in modern Turkish history, with an estimated 2,5 million people taking to the streets of the country's largest city to express their discontent with the policies of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The mass demonstrations that engulfed the metropolis on Saturday, March 29, 2025, were the culmination of a week of unrest sparked by the arrest of the city's mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, widely seen as the head of state's main political rival. The rally, organized by the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), is already being called the most significant manifestation of popular anger in decades.

The events began with Imamoglu’s arrest on March 19 on charges of corruption and supporting terrorism that the opposition says are trumped up. On Sunday, a court ordered him remanded in custody pending trial, adding fuel to public discontent. The overnight protests that began outside City Hall in the Saraçane district quickly grew into a nationwide movement. Hundreds of thousands of people gathered on the Maltepe waterfront on Istanbul’s Asian side on Saturday, waving Turkish flags and chanting slogans calling for Erdogan to step down. CHP leader Özgür Özel addressed the crowd, declaring Imamoglu’s arrest an attempt by the government to eliminate a rival ahead of the 2028 elections, and estimated the crowd at 2,2 million, although independent sources have yet to confirm the exact numbers.

Erdogan’s government has responded harshly: since the protests began, police have used tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets, arresting more than 1900 people across the country. Authorities have banned gatherings in several cities, including Istanbul, and restricted access to social media, blocking more than 700 accounts on the X platform, including journalists and politicians. Erdogan has called the demonstrations a “violent movement” and accused the CHP of inciting chaos, vowing to prevent “street terrorism.” The Justice Ministry, for its part, insists on the independence of the judiciary and denies that the Imamoglu case is politically motivated.

The protests in Istanbul reflect the deep crisis gripping Turkey. Economic hardships, including the slumping lira and rising inflation, coupled with accusations of authoritarianism, have fueled discontent with the government that has been in power for more than 20 years. Imamoglu, who has won three mayoral elections, is seen as a symbol of hope for change. His arrest, and the revocation of his diploma by Istanbul University the day before his detention, sparked a wave of solidarity: Some 15 million people, including 13 million non-members, cast a symbolic ballot for the CHP to endorse him for president.