A total of 343 people were detained in protests across Turkey yesterday over the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. The demonstrations took place in a dozen cities, including Istanbul and the capital Ankara.

Turkey's Interior Ministry said the detentions were made to prevent "disturbances to public order" and warned that authorities would not tolerate chaos and provocations.

The demonstrations began on Wednesday when Imamoglu was detained on charges of corruption and aiding a terrorist group, along with 103 other suspects. He was also seen as a likely candidate for the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) in the 2028 presidential election.

The opposition NRP party assessed the case as politically motivated and called for peaceful protests despite the authorities' ban on holding public gatherings.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya and Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc condemned the call for protests and described it as irresponsible. According to Minister Yerlikaya, the protesters want to disrupt public order and cause chaos.