Istanbul’s public prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation into recent opposition calls for a boycott of pro-government businesses following the arrest of the city’s mayor.

Turkish prosecutors have launched an investigation into individuals promoting economic boycotts on social and traditional media, following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. The Istanbul chief prosecutor's office said in a statement on Tuesday it was probing calls that allegedly aimed to prevent a segment of the public from engaging in economic activity,

Turkish authorities detained and deported BBC correspondent Mark Lowen​ and arrested other journalists amid the largest nationwide protests in a decade.

Istanbul's public prosecutor’s office Tuesday launched an investigation into recent opposition calls for a boycott of pro-government businesses following the arrest of the city's mayor. The prosecutor’s office determined that “divisive rhetoric" on traditional and social media aimed at hindering the economic activity of a segment of society constituted “hatred and discrimination” and “incitement to hatred and hostility,

A new generation of young Turks is at the forefront of mass protests against President Tayyip Erdogan’s government, demanding change in a country they see as increasingly authoritarian. Demonstrations erupted after Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu,

At its founding in 1923, the Republic of Turkey was established as a secular state under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Secularism was seen as essential to modern development, as it decoupled state power structures from religious authorities.