Turkish court jails Istanbul Mayor Imamoglu ahead of trial

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was jailed on Sunday pending trial for graft charges, according to Turkish media and other broadcasters, in a move expected to ignite significant protests against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government, marking the largest civil unrest in over a decade.

Imamoglu, seen as Erdogan's chief political rival, was imprisoned along with at least 20 others amid a corruption investigation that has drawn criticism from opposition parties, European leaders, and thousands of demonstrators, who label the actions as politicised and undemocratic.

The court said Imamoglu, 54, and at least 20 others were jailed as part of a corruption investigation, one of two that were opened against him last week.

The court decided to release the mayor under judicial control measures over a separate terror-related charge, broadcasters Halk TV and AHaber reported, potentially blocking the government from appointing a trustee to run the country's largest city.

Imamoglu, who leads Erdogan in some polls, has denied the charges, calling them "unimaginable accusations and slanders".

Also on Sunday members of is Republican People's Party (CHP), the main opposition against Erdogan's ruling alliance, and others were voting to select Imamoglu as the CHP's candidate for the next presidential election.

No general election is scheduled until 2028. But if Erdogan, who has led Turkiye for 22 years, is to run again, parliament would need to back an earlier election since the president will have reached his limit by that date.

Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavas, also of the CHP, told reporters on Sunday that jailing Imamoglu is a disgrace to the judicial system.

The government denies that investigations are politically motivated and says courts are independent. It has warned against protests, especially given a nationwide ban on street gatherings that was extended on Saturday for four more days.

On Saturday, thousands gathered outside the Istanbul municipality building and the main courthouse, with hundreds of police stationed at both locations using tear gas and pepper spray pellets to disperse protesters, as the crowd hurled firecrackers and other objects at them.

Though most demonstrations have been peaceful, protesters also clashed with police in the western coastal province of Izmir and the capital Ankara for a third night in a row, with police firing water cannons at the crowds.

Turkish authorities have detained 323 people during protests over the investigation, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said early on Sunday.