Thousands of people protested in Istanbul on March 20 after the arrest of the city`s mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu. Imamoglu, a member of the opposition party, is seen as a major challenger to President Erdogan. Authorities closed several roads, restricted social media, and imposed a four-day ban on protests to prevent further demonstrations. In Ankara, hundreds of protesters gathered and shouted anti-government slogans. Police used pepper spray to break up the crowd, and some protesters tried to push through the police lines. A total of 100 people, including Imamoglu and other key figures, were arrested. Imamoglu and his aides face accusations of corruption, including extortion and fraud. His arrest is seen as part of a wider effort by the government to target opposition leaders, with critics calling it a move to silence dissent.