"We will continue to commit the crime of opening daycare centers. I entrust these centers, built for our children, to our people," the İstanbul mayor said through his lawyers.

Over 50 protesters were taken into custody in protests across Turkey, which have largely been led by university students.

The restrictions slowing down major social media and messaging apps remained in place for 42 hours. Meanwhile, police have identified 326 accounts in connections with posts about İmamoğlu's detention, with 54 have been taken into custody.

İmamoğlu's detention "bears all the hallmarks of the pressure on a political figure considered as one of the main candidates in forthcoming presidential elections," said CoE officials.

İmamoğlu, who is seen as a strong challenger to President Erdoğan, faces the risk of losing both his chance to run for president and his position as mayor of İstanbul.

“They know thousands of us are here, but they don’t care," said one citizen.

İmamoğlu was taken into custody in connection with two separate investigations involving allegations of terrorism and corruption. The confiscation of the company concerns the latter investigation, where prosecutors accuse him of “forming a criminal organization for personal gain.”

"This is a coup against politics and democracy. Now, they will try to seize the municipalities as well. The government’s actions show that we are facing an outright coup and a system of political confiscation," says Tanrıkulu.

Members of the İstanbul mayor's CHP protested his detention in the parliament.

"The judiciary does not take orders or instructions from anyone. Judicial rulings are binding for all, and there are no privileges before the law," Tunç asserted, criticizing public calls for protests and references to a "coup" targeting the oppositon.

"Peace and a coup cannot coexist," says Meral Danış-Beştaş, spokesperson of the Peoples' Democratic Congress.

Bahçeli strongly criticized those characterizing İmamoğlu’s detention as a "coup attempt."

Since he was elected the mayor of Turkey's largest city in 2019, İmamoğlu has been a central figure in Turkey's political landscape.

Dollar, euro and gold saw historic highs against the lira.

All major social media and messaging apps are being throttled.

Ekrem İmamoğlu and more than 100 others including municipal officials and CHP members have been taken into custody on corruption and terrorism-related allegations. The mayor was poised to run in his party's presidential primary.

İmamoğlu, Erdoğan's anticipated rival in Turkey's next presidential election, already faces multiple charges carrying potential years-long prison sentences and has now also lost his diploma.

Hatice Onaran, who is diagnosed with cancer, was jailed due to depositing money to ill prisoners.

Üner is accused of "publicly insulting judicial institutions" and "attempting to influence a fair trial."

One day after the plant was sealed, the ministry approved a new environmental impact assessment report for the facility.