Protests that erupted across Turkey following the arrest of the main challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have taken a new direction with calls for a one-day shopping boycott.

More than two million supporters of jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu took to the city's streets in protest demanding his release after being arrested on corruption charges.

Turkish fans had urged the rock band to cancel the show as thousands of citizens protest the recent arrest of mayor Ekrem Imamoglu

Unlike X, which has suspended social media accounts at the request of the Turkish government, Meta says it has faced heavy fines in Turkey for refusing to do so.

A Turkish court formally jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's main political opponent, prompting thousands Sunday night to take to the streets across the country in protest.

Charged with 'corruption' and 'aiding a terror organization,' the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, seen as the main opposition figure against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, triggered nationwide protests.

People wave flags of Turkey atop a garbage truck during a rally called by the Republican People's Party (CHP) in support of Istanbul's arrested mayor Ekrem Imanoglu in Maltepe, on the outskirts of Istanbul on March 29, 2025 (Angelos Tzortzinis/AFP)

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a potential challenger to longtime President Tayyip Erdogan, appeared in a Turkish court on Saturday for the first time since his detention on Wednesday for alleged corruption and terrorism.