The mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, was detained after prosecutors accused him of corruption and terrorism. The opposition said the arrest was politically motivated.

Ruling can deprive him of the chance to challenge Erdogan for the presidency.

The Turkish president's main political rival, Ekrem Imamoglu, was set to be nominated as his party's pick for presidential candidate this weekend. But Istanbul Univesity revoked Imamoglu's degree, disqualifying him.

Protesters near Istanbul's main police headquarters have said the detention of President Tayyip Erdogan's main political rival and the city's mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was a blow to Turkish democracy.

The arrest of Istanbul’s mayor, a popular opposition leader, marks a dramatic escalation in a government crackdown.

Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested on corruption charges and alleged links to the PKK. His arrest is considered politically motivated by critics, who believe it is intended to prevent him from running for president and to weaken opposition.

Turkish police on Wednesday arrested Istanbul’s mayor — a popular opposition leader and key rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan — and several other prominent figures as part of investigations into alleged corruption and terror links. It was a dramatic escalation in an ongoing crackdown on the opposition and dissenting voices in Turkey.

Imamoglu, the popular 53-year-old mayor was seen as the next opposition party candidate for the Turkish presidency.

Turkish police have arrested Istanbul’s mayor — a key rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan — as part of an investigation into alleged corruption and terror links.

Opposition slams move as a politically motivated “coup”.

March 19 (UPI) -- Political opposition leader and Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was in Turkish police custody Wednesday after he was arrested days before being chosen as the presidential candidate for the Republican People's Party.

Many Turks described restrictions on X, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Whatsapp, Signal, Telegram and other services.

Turkish sources report that a large security force has surrounded İmamoğlu’s home.

Istanbul Mayor arrested amid corruption probe, jeopardizing his future political aspirations in Turkey's presidential race.

On Tuesday, Istanbul University ruled that Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu’s 1995 degree was falsely obtained, revoking it amid a forgery probe. The decision could derail his presidential hopes, though he vows to fight it in court while leading the CHP against Erdoğan’s AK Party.

A university has invalidated Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu's diploma in a move widely perceived as politically motivated.