The court orders that Imamoglu, a key rival of President Erdogan, imprisoned the result of a trial for corruption charges.
A Turkish court has formally placed the mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, under arrest awaiting corruption charges, days after his detention triggered mass protests throughout the country.
The court said that Imamoglu and at least another 20 were imprisoned as part of a corruption investigation. A separate decision on terror -related investigation has not yet been issued.
The Court decided to free the mayor under judicial control measures for a separate position related to terror, the Hik TV and Ahaber announcers reported, potentially blocking the government to appoint an administrator to direct the largest city in the country.
The mayor, a key figure of the opposition and the possible challenger of President Rece Tayyip Erdogan, was arrested Wednesday by the government for alleged corruption and “terrorism.”
Imamoglu has denied all the positions that describe them as part of a “spots campaign.”
The mayor of Ankara, Mansur Yavas, an Imamogu ally, told journalists that jail is a misfortune for the judicial system.
The decision of the court to send Imamogu to the preventive detention is produced after the main Republican Popular Party (CHP) of the opposition, the European leaders and tens of thousands of protesters criticized the actions against him as politicized.
The government has denied that the cases were politically motivated.
Security measures harden
Sinem Koseoglu, from Al Jazeera, who informs Istanbul, said that other people who were also accused were ordered released awaiting trial.
Our correspondent also said that security measures have squeezed in Istanbul since Saturday night before the most expected protests on Sunday.
“Despite a protest prohibition, which extended until March 26, demonstrations have been made, even in Istanbul, Ankara and another 50 cities last night.”
Police said at least 300,000 people protested in Istanbul on Saturday night. The opposition said the number was closer to one million people. Al Jazeera, however, could not verify the numbers claimed by the opposition.
Sunday's judicial decision also occurs when the members of the CHP of the opposition and others are directed to the electoral centers for a primary election to choose candidate for the next presidential elections in 2028. Imamoglu is likely to be elected as a candidate of CHP.
The CHP has asked members who are not members to vote to boost public resistance after Imamoglu arrest.
CHP, which has more than 1.5 million members, established 5,600 polls to vote in all 81 provinces in Türkiye. The surveys will close to 1400 GMT.
