Image source, Getty Images

It’s been nearly a week since Istanbul’s popular mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested, sparking widespread protests across Turkey.

• Thousands of people have again gathered to demonstrate against his detention, and express wider discontent with the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan

• ·Erdogan has accused the opposition party of provoking the protests, which he denounced as “evil” in a news conference this afternoon

• Imamoglu remains in jail awaiting trial – but that did not stop his party from confirming him as its candidate for the country’s 2028 presidential election

• ·Earlier, the Turkish government said 1,133 people had been arrested since the protests started

• And the EU urged Turkey to “uphold European values” as a candidate to join the bloc

We’re pausing our live coverage here.

You can read more about what caused the protests and there's more on Erdogan’s 20 years in power. You can also read analysis from our senior international correspondent Orla Guerin

William Armstrong
Turkey specialist, BBC Monitoring

Image source, Reuters

Despite alarm over intensifying protests over Imamoglu’s arrest, Turkish officials and media outlets linked to President Erdogan have signalled no step back from the crackdown.

Pro-government media outlets have focused overwhelmingly on “corruption” and “terror” accusations against the Istanbul mayor and others. They have also echoed Erdogan in accusing protesters, external of “terrorising the streets” and “disturbing the peace of our citizens”, widely highlighting footage of masked demonstrators clashing with police.

Some media commentators have speculated that the authorities did not expect to trigger such a large grassroots reaction with Imamoglu’s detention. However, few pro-Erdogan voices have suggested any compromise will be made.

Pro-government Hurriyet newspaper editor-in-chief Ahmet Hakan recently said, external he expects protests to blow over and for Erdogan to further consolidate his rule. “There is no way the storm will last for three years,” Hakan said, referring to the time left until Turkey’s next scheduled presidential election.

If he is right that opposition outrage will eventually run out of steam, Erdogan will feel vindicated, and his government will expect to consolidate its rule indefinitely. Critics fear that Turkey, a key Nato member and EU membership candidate, would then have shifted to an autocratic system where a change of government via elections is effectively impossible.

Image source, Getty Images

The UK Foreign Office has not updated its advice for travelling to Turkey since the demonstrations began.

But its advice page does note that demonstrations in cities can become violent, with police known to have used water cannon and tear gas to disperse crowds.

It advises to avoid all demonstrations and leave the area if one develops.

The Foreign Office advises against all travel to within 10km (6 miles) of the border with Syria due to fighting and a heightened risk of terrorism.

Further advice on travel to Turkey can be found here., external

Here's some of the latest footage we've seen showing huge crowds of protesters in Turkey tonight.

As we've been reporting, demonstrations have been taking place in Istanbul and elsewhere for a sixth day.

Image source, Getty Images

Recep Tayyip Erdogan has held office for the past 22 years, as both prime minister and president of Turkey for the Islamist-rooted Justice and Development Party (AKP) he founded.

Due to term limits, he cannot run for office again in 2028 unless he changes the constitution.

He and his AKP government survived an attempted coup in 2016 which saw clashes on the streets of Istanbul and Ankara, leaving 256 people dead.

To his supporters, Erdogan has brought Turkey years of economic growth, but to his critics he is an autocratic leader intolerant of dissent who harshly silences anyone who opposes him.

• Erdogan: Turkey's all-powerful leader of 20 years

Mahmut Hamsici
reporting from Istanbul, Turkey

Image source, Getty Images

The prison where Ekrem Imamoglu has been sent is seen as one of the symbols of the ruling AKP era.

It is located in Silivri, a suburb of Istanbul once famous for its beaches and delicious yoghurt.

In 2008, a new and modern prison complex was built here.

Since then it has hosted many high profile figures, from generals to journalists turning the Silivri prison into a political symbol.

"Silivri is cold now" is a popular joke, referring to the situation that those who criticise the government too much can be sent to its cold cells.

The name of the prison was changed to Marmara in 2022, but it is still called Silivri by ordinary people.

Today, the prisoners include many critical names, from Umit Ozdag, the leader of the far-right Victory Party, to Osman Kavala, a philanthropist.

The head of the main opposition CHP, Ozgur Ozel, says they will close the prison when they come to power.

Turkish officials deny accusations of political imprisonments saying the judiciary is independent.

Image source, Getty Images

The current wave of demonstrations across Turkey has been described as the country's largest since the Gezi Park protests of 2013.

But what were they?

They started in Istanbul over plans to demolish Gezi Park – one of the city’s few remaining green spaces at the time.

The police's violent response to a sit-in in the park prompted unrest to spread to other cities, and the movement began to represent wider discontent with Erdogan’s leadership.

Several people were killed and thousands were injured in clashes with police during months of anti-government unrest that followed May 2013's initial sit-in.

Today, those protests are held up as a symbol of Turkish resistance, with many demonstrators holding signs that reference the park.

“We are the fruits of the trees of the Gezis,” Irmak, a 22-year-old protester, told the BBC earlier today. "We are here to protect democracy."

Image source, Reuters

Turkey's commitment to pursuing EU membership "sounds increasingly hollow" in light of Imamoglu's arrest, says Germany's foreign minister.

In a post on X, external, Annalena Baerbock says a country that envisions its future in the EU "must uphold the rule of law".

"Political competitors do not belong in prison or before the courts," she adds.

Earlier, the European Commission urged Turkey to "uphold democratic values" as a country that is both a member of the Council of Europe and a candidate for joining the European Union.

Turkey first applied to join the EU in 1987 and it started talks on membership in 2005. It has made little progress in its membership bid since 2016, when a failed coup attempt sparked a widespread government crackdown.

Mahmut Hamsici
BBC News, Turkish

Image source, Getty Images

Young Turks have played an important role in these protests from the beginning.

In fact, they paved the way.

On 19 March, shortly after Ekrem Imamoglu was detained, a group of protesting students from Istanbul University broke through police barricades and marched to the Istanbul Municipality.

The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP)’s call for evening rallies came shortly after. Now they are staging boycotts at universities.

For many, it’s their first time protesting.

They are in their early 20s, which means that they have never seen a government other than the AKP, President Erdogan's party, which came to power in 2002.

They were children during the massive Gezi Park protests in 2013, but they say they are inspired by that movement.

They have different political views, from secular nationalism to socialism. But most don't appear to be affiliated with a particular political movement.

They are all against the government and its policies which they describe as "unlawful". But they don't hesitate to criticize the main opposition party either.

When we speak to them at the rallies, they talk about economic problems and what they see as lack of a future.

When I ask a young woman whether she’s afraid, she replies: "There is nothing left to lose."

Despite the violent clashes yesterday evening, demonstrators are still joining large protests against the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu for the sixth evening in a row.

We can now bring you more pictures from Istanbul this evening:

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Reuters

Pinar Ersoy
BBC News, Turkish

Image source, Reuters

BBC News Turkish has seen its online traffic triple since the start of the protests last week, drawing some 3.3 million people to its website since 19 March, as audiences sought a balanced picture of these momentous events.

Turkey’s media environment has been long-polarised and in the past few days most outlets presented a one-sided picture of the events, covering them either as violent acts by extreme groups, or reporting in a staunch pro-protester tone.

The country’s broadcasting authority, RTUK, has urged media outlets to report only official statements, warning their licences could be revoked.

On Monday, at least 10 journalists were detained, reportedly for their role in covering the protests.

News updates and explainers on the BBC Turkish website and videos on its YouTube channel, external, featured voices and opinions from across the political spectrum. One of the most popular reports, external of the past few days, which gathered around 1.6 million views across multiple platforms, shows that it is the younger generation of Turks who appear to be driving the protests.

BBC News Turkish is one of the BBC’s oldest languages services, broadcasting since 1939.

Over its long history it gained respect and trust of the Turkish audience, and current developments show just how crucial the BBC’s contribution is to providing impartial and contextualised reporting on the events currently shaping Turkish society.

Isabella Bull
BBC World Service

We've been hearing from some of the thousands of people who have taken to the streets across Turkey.

Irmak is a 22-year-old university student, who has never known a Turkey without Erdogan in power.

"I don’t know what he did 20 years ago, but nowadays, he is just a dictator," she tells OS on the BBC World Service.

Irmak is at the protest in the Sarachane area of Istanbul tonight, with her friends Ozge and Elif.

They’ve all turned on location sharing on their phones, because they say the risk of being detained by police is very high.

"We don’t feel safe as protesters in Turkey,” says Ozge, “but we’re still here."

The trio are holding signs referencing the large Gezi protests of 2013, when began in Istanbul over the demolition of a park.

"We are the fruits of the trees of the Gezis," Irmak says. "We are here to protect democracy. It’s not just about Ekrem Imamoglu. It’s about Turkey’s democracy."

Far more than a row over the fate of Istanbul's mayorpublished at 17:32 Greenwich Mean Time 24 March

17:32 GMT 24 March

Orla Guerin
Senior international correspondent in Istanbul

Image source, Reuters

Beneath the acrid smell of tear gas on the night air in Istanbul, there is a hint of something else - a whiff of panic on the part of Turkey's long-time leader, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

One of his rivals has been put behind bars - so far, so familiar.

But the jailing of Ekrem Imamoglu, the popular mayor of Istanbul, suggests President Erdogan is rattled – and he may have gone too far. The mayor's opposition Republican People's party (CHP), which is summoning vast crowds onto the streets, is certainly hoping so.

Ekrem Imamoglu - always smartly turned out, even as he prepared to be detained - is the main rival to Turkey's increasingly authoritarian leader. He could well replace him in presidential elections due to be held by 2028 - assuming he is free to contest them.

But this is far more than a row about the fate of Istanbul's mayor - charismatic though he may be.

Freedom and democracy have been steadily eroded in the Erdogan era. Many see this as a chance to call halt and stop the descent into all-out autocracy - if it's not already too late.

And they are coming out each night braving the riot police and their tear gas and rubber bullets, the ban on demonstrations, the road and bridge closures, and the risk of detention.

• Continue to read Orla Guerin's full article

Image source, Getty Images

A live feed from Istanbul that we're watching here in our London newsroom shows a crowd of protesters - many brandishing Turkish flags - standing in the middle of a square, chanting.

After a few minutes, the chanting reaches its crescendo, with many beginning to jump up and down in unison.

Moments later, a red flare is lit and held up above the crowd, which in turn answers with whoops and cheers.

On the periphery are police officers wearing riot gear, forming a barrier with their shields.

So far, it appears tonight's protest is largely peaceful.

As we've been reporting, protesters are marching through the streets of Istanbul, one night after police used water cannon and tear gas as they clashed with demonstrators.

Here are some images from the demonstration that arrived at our picture desk in the last half an hour:

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

It’s just after 19:40 in Istanbul, where large crowds are gathering for what is set to be a sixth night of demonstrations against the arrest of the city's mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu.

We'll bring you all the key updates as they happen here on this page. In the meantime, here's everything you need to know:

Rival jailed: Imamoglu, a key political rival of Turkey's President Erdogan, was detained on corruption charges last Wednesday, sparking days of protests from supporters who say the arrest was politically motivated

Erdogan on the offensive: Earlier today, Erdogan labelled the protests as “evil” and blamed the opposition for provoking a “movement of violence” at a press conference in Ankara

Hundreds detained: The past five nights of protests saw more than 1,100 people arrested, according to Turkish authorities.

Opposition pushes back: Despite his incarceration, Imamoglu was officially selected as the opposition CHP party’s candidate for Turkey’s 2028 presidential election this morning

Protesters stay optimistic: On the ground, one protester told the BBC of the strength she has found in the movement, while others shared their hopes for Turkey's future

Image source, EPA

From humble beginnings, Recep Tayyip Erdogan has grown into a political giant, leading Turkey for more than 20 years.

Here's a brief timeline of his rise to power:

• From 2003, he spent three terms as prime minister, presiding over a period of steady economic growth and winning praise internationally as a reformer - during that time, critics warned he was becoming increasingly autocratic
• By 2013, protesters took to the streets, partly because of his government's plans to transform a much-loved park in the centre of Istanbul, but also in a challenge to more authoritarian rule. Erdogan condemned the protesters as "capulcu" (riff-raff)
• Barred from running again for PM, in 2014 he stood for the largely ceremonial role of president in unprecedented direct elections, and won
• After surviving a coup attempt in 2016, he turned his presidency into an ever more powerful executive role, and cracked down on his opponents and dissent
• He then narrowly won a 2017 referendum granting him sweeping presidential powers, including the right to impose a state of emergency and appoint top public officials as well as intervene in the legal system
• Years later, ahead of the 2023 election, he sought to bolster his credentials with nationalist and conservative voters by accusing the West of moving against him

Crowds are once again massing outside Istanbul's city hall, where tensions flared between police and protesters yesterday evening.

The protests began six days ago, when Istanbul's Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu - a key rival of President Erdogan - was detained on corruption charges. Imamoglu characterises the allegations against him as politically motivated.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

We can bring you more now from Erdogan's briefing in Ankara.

The Turkish president says demonstrations in support of the jailed Istanbul mayor have turned into a "movement of violence", according to a Reuters translation of his remarks.

Erdogan accuses the opposition of "provoking" citizens and calls on them to stop.

Image source, Getty Images

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says Turkey's main opposition party is "responsible for the injury of our police officers in the vandals' attacks, the breaking of our shopkeepers’ windows, and the damage to public property".

"Instead of responding to allegations of corruption, robbery, bribery and extortion, they have made the most vile and unlawful statements in our political history for [the last] five days," he goes on - calling on them to stop the protests.

"Stop disturbing the peace of our citizens with provocations," he says from Turkey's capital Ankara - adding that the opposition should not "play with the people's nerves any longer".

"I believe that if [the opposition] has any respect left, they will be ashamed of the evil they have done to the country."

Reuters news agency also quotes him as saying "that the main opposition cannot be handed [the] duty of running the state, let alone municipalities".

• For context: The five biggest cities in Turkey are led by mayors from the Republican People's Party (CHP) - including Istanbul, run by Ekrem Imamoglu, whose arrest and detainment sparked this wave of unrest.