Istanbul, 23 March 2025 (dpa/MIA) - Turkish opposition politician Ekrem İmamoğlu has been "temporarily" suspended as mayor of Istanbul, the Interior Ministry said on Sunday.

İmamoğlu was first taken into custody on Wednesday, days before he was expected to be nominated as the presidential candidate for Turkey's largest opposition party, the CHP.

The leading opponent of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was then formally arrested on Sunday after a court ordered his pre-trial detention on corruption charges.

The case has sparked nightly nationwide demonstrations and heightened concerns about democratic backsliding in Turkey.

İmamoğlu, who was elected Istanbul's mayor in 2019, denies the allegations and says they are politically motivated.

Photo: EPA