19 Mar, 22:00

Turkish opposition leader calls for rallies in support for Istanbul mayor on March 23

Istanbul authorities have banned rallies and demonstrations in the city until March 23

ISTANBUL, March 20. /TASS/. Leader of Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (RPP) Ozgur Ozel has called on people to take to the streets on Sunday, March 23, to protests the detention of their party peer, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.

"This Sunday, we, thousands, millions of people, will take to the streets. March 23 will be f herald of snap election. All call on all RPP members to support Iamamoglu as Turkey’s future president," he told a thousand-strong rally in downtown Istanbul.

Istanbul authorities have banned rallies and demonstrations in the city until March 23, as well as any marches and press statements. However, the RPP leader called for a rally on Sunday.

Protests against Imamoglu’s detention were also held in Ankara and several other Turkish cities.

According to earlier reports, Imamoglu, along with 87 out of 106 suspects, was detained as part of an anti-corruption crackdown. Ozel accused the country’s authorities of an "attempted state coup," saying that they are seeking to hamper the party’s primaries on March 23 where the Istanbul mayor is expected to be nominated as an opposition candidate for president.

Regular election is to be held in Turkey in 2028 but the opposition insists on early voting.

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