Protests erupt after Istanbul mayor's arrest

Clashes broke out between police and protestors in Turkey, as thousands took to the streets over what they call the undemocratic detention of Istanbul's mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.

Protests took place in various locations across Istanbul and Ankara, including the entrance of the municipality building, despite a ban on gatherings, police barricades and dozens of detentions over social media posts.

Imamoglu, President Tayyip Erdogan's main political rival, was taken in on Wednesday facing charges of graft and aiding a terrorist group, a move that the opposition condemned as a "coup attempt" and that sparked an initial round of demonstrations.

The move against the popular two-term mayor caps a months-long legal crackdown on opposition figures across the country which has been criticised as a politicised attempt to hurt their electoral prospects and silence dissent.

Thousands of opposition supporters gathered outside the Istanbul municipality building to protest against the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.

They waved Turkish flags and chanted slogans in protest of the decision, while main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Ozgur Ozel addressed them from on top of a bus.

Turkish authorities detained Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on charges of corruption and alleged links to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a group designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey and its allies. The arrest has drawn international attention, with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressing concern over its impact on EU-Turkey relations. Human rights organizations have condemned the detention, viewing it as a setback for democracy in Turkey. 

The political turmoil has adversely affected Turkey's financial markets. The Turkish lira has hit a record low, and the stock exchange experienced a significant drop, reflecting investor apprehension over the country's stability.