Photo: Getty Images
The action is held under the slogan "Freedom for Imamoglu"
Republican People's Party leader Ozgur Ozel said 2.2 million people gathered in the square in the city center.
Turkey's opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) held a mass rally in Istanbul on Saturday, March 29, demanding the dismissal of the city's mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, local newspaper Hürriyet Daily News reported .
The action, held under the slogan "Freedom for Imamoglu", was scheduled for noon, but began an hour later, at 1:00 p.m.
AFP estimates that hundreds of thousands of people are taking part in the event. CHP leader Ozgur Ozel said 2.2 million people gathered in the square in central Istanbul.
The highlight of the rally was a speech delivered by an artificial intelligence that reproduced Imamoglu's voice.
"They may try to stop me, but I believe in you," the artificial intelligence said in the voice of the mayor of Istanbul.
Speaking at the protest, Özel voiced the opposition's demand that Imamoglu's trial be broadcast live on state-run TRT, reinforcing calls for transparency.
As a reminder, Ekrem Imamoglu was detained on March 19 on charges of corruption , bribery, and ties to criminal organizations. Authorities have opened two separate investigations in which the mayor is accused of rigging tenders and leading a criminal group.
It should be added that over 13 million participants in the primaries nominated the arrested Ekrem Imamoglu as the candidate for president of Turkey. In total, 15 million citizens took part in the primaries of the opposition Republican People's Party on Sunday, March 23.
Nearly 1,900 detained in Turkey protests
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