"I will not bow my head, I will always stand tall. Together, we will erase the dark stain on Turkey's democracy" - Turkey's main opposition leader Imamoglu

"I will not bow my head, I will always stand tall. Together, we will erase the dark stain on Turkey's democracy" - Turkey's main opposition leader Imamoglu

Istanbul, Turkey – Ekrem Imamoglu, the main opposition leader of Turkey and Mayor of Istanbul, was sent to jail on Sunday during an ongoing trial on corruption charges, sparking the largest protest in Turkey in a decade.

Imamoglu is accused of "forming a criminal organization, accepting bribes, embezzling funds, illegally recording personal data, and manipulating government tenders." In response, his supporters have joined intense protests and started demonstrations against the government.

Imamoglu told his supporters on social media, "I will not bow my head, I will always stand tall. Together, we will erase this coup and the dark stain on democracy."

Following this incident, Turkey's main opposition party, the Republican People's Party (CHP), announced that they would nominate Imamoglu as their candidate for the upcoming presidential elections. Imamoglu is now the sole candidate, and a large number of voters have come to polling stations in support of him.

Opponents claim that this move is politically motivated and a threat to democracy. After Imamoglu was detained and sent to jail during the ongoing trial, the CHP stated that their party's 14.85 million votes represent a strong protest, questioning the legitimacy of the government.

Meanwhile, Imamoglu has denied the charges against him, calling them "unbelievable accusations and slanders," and has called for nationwide protests and demonstrations against the government.

Reliable sources suggest that the case against Imamoglu and the attacks on him have ignited further resistance among opponents of President Erdogan's long-standing rule. While Turkey’s central bank and government officials have taken measures to reduce market instability, the start of protests and Imamoglu’s imprisonment is negatively affecting Turkey's economic situation.

The ongoing political instability is further uniting the opposition against the current government and President Erdogan, and there is a possibility of more protests in the future.