Istanbul - Saba:
Authorities in Istanbul announced restrictions on entry and exit from the province amid ongoing protests in the city.
Istanbul authorities stated, "Entry into and out of Istanbul will be prohibited for individuals, groups, and vehicles who may be involved in illegal activities, individually or collectively." They did not specify what procedures would be in place to assess the likelihood of individuals participating in protests.
Protests in support of the detained Istanbul mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, a member of the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), have continued since March 20 in Saraçana Square near the city hall, as well as in several other Turkish cities.
Turkish media reported on Sunday that the Çağlayan Court in Istanbul ordered the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on corruption charges, but rejected a request for his arrest in a second terrorism case. In addition to İmamoğlu, several senior officials in the city council were arrested, totaling more than 90 people implicated in the corruption case.
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, for its part, intends to appeal the decision to refuse İmamoğlu's arrest in the terrorism case, Sabah newspaper reported earlier. İmamoğlu and the other defendants have the right to appeal.
According to Halk TV, İmamoğlu has the right to appeal the court's decision to arrest him. Sabah newspaper reported that the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office intends to appeal the court's decision to reject İmamoğlu's arrest request in the terrorism case. Only the Constitutional Court is competent to make a final and undisputed decision.
Previously, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, commenting on İmamoğlu's arrest, stated that the opposition was attempting to exert political pressure on the police and judiciary.
The Turkish Presidential Administration described İmamoğlu's arrest as a "baseless slander" against Erdoğan, given the arrest of İmamoğlu, who is considered the current president's main rival in the potential early presidential elections.
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