President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accuses opposition politicians in Turkey of "disturbing the peace of our citizens with provocations" after a week of protests
Unrest began on Wednesday when Istanbul's Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu - an opponent of Erdogan - was detained on corruption charges
Imamoglu spent the night in jail on Sunday and says the charges are politically motivated, something Erdogan denies
Fresh crowds have now gathered in Istanbul for a sixth consecutive day of protests - watch live at the top of this page
Earlier, the Turkish government said 1,133 people had been arrested since the protests started
Turkey's presidential election is not scheduled until 2028 - Imamoglu was confirmed today as the Republican People's Party (CPH)'s candidate, after a symbolic primary vote
Crowds gather in Istanbul for sixth day of protests
Last night, police and protestors clashed in cities across Turkey following the imprisonment of Ekrem Imamoglu, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's main political rival.
Here's some footage of the scenes from Sunday - including police using pepper spray to control the crowds.
Barbara Tasch
Live reporter
Tensions remain high in Turkey, following the detainment of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's main political rival and the protests that have ensued across the country in response.
Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul, is being held in prison on corruption charges - which he describes as being politically motivated.
Sunday saw a ramping up of the worst unrest in the country for more than a decade, with protesters being fired at with tear gas and rubber bullets. Such demonstrations are expected to continue across the country after hundreds of thousands of people defied a ban to take to the streets over the weekend.
And just a few hours ago, Turkish police detained several politicians, lawyers and journalists in dawn raids in Istanbul and the city of Izmir.
Stay with us as we bring you the latest news and analysis.
Tom Joyner
Live reporter
Image source, ReutersAfter days of political drama in Turkey, tensions are running high.
It all started on Wednesday with the arrest of Istanbul’s mayor. By Sunday, he was in detention, awaiting trial on corruption charges.
The next presidential election is still three years away, but a major showdown is already taking shape.
On one side is President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, accused by critics of trying to silence a political rival.
On the other, his jailed challenger, Ekrem Imamoglu, a hugely popular mayor seen by many as a future leader - although questions remain over his ability to run.
“He is a significant threat to President Erdogan,” Turkey analyst Steven A Cook tells the BBC.
Across the country, thousands have defied orders to stay home, clashing with police in support of the mayor.
In Istanbul, emotions are running especially high.
“This is oppression,” said Mevlüde Karataş outside court.
Another supporter said: "We are maybe living the most important days of our democracy in the last 100 years."
That’s all from our live coverage today. You can read more here.
Image source, EPAThe leader of Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) has been posting on X after the government requested a ban on hundreds of accounts on the social media platform.
"Today they are trying to suppress social media," Ozgur Ozel writes. "Accept it now Mr. Tayyip [President Erdogan], you cannot suppress the voice of the people."
"I congratulate the [X] administration for its democratic and liberal attitude and hope that it will continue this attitude with courage," Ozel adds.
Image source, Getty ImagesEarlier today, Turkey's justice minister has spoken about the jailing of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, saying it's wrong to call the judicial investigation a "political investigation".
"Drawing legal evaluations to political grounds may cause false perceptions in the public opinion and also constitutes a violation of the principle of the Rule of Law," Yilmaz Tunc says.
He adds that justice is only served by independent and impartial judicial authorities that make decisions on behalf of the Turkish nation.
We're now showing you a drone clip with footage from the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP).
You can see the huge scale of the protest tonight.
Thousands protest after Istanbul mayor arrested
Image source, ReutersThere’s no credible basis for the corruption charges against Ekrem Imamoglu, says Steven A. Cook, a Turkey analyst at the Council on Foreign Relations.
He tells the BBC there’s a "stunning irony" to the charges, as President Erdogan himself has faced allegations of "massive corruption" for the past decade.
Cook says Imamoglu’s arrest and detention this week have only made an already popular politician even more so.
"He is a significant threat to President Erdogan," Cook says, adding that with a "pliable" judiciary willing to follow Erdogan’s agenda and no independent press, there are few checks and balances left.
"What we're seeing right now with hundreds of thousands of Turks in the streets is really the only check on President Erdogan's power."
Earlier today, supporters of Imamoglu gathered outside Istanbul's Çağlayan courthouse.
The opposition candidate appeared there yesterday before being moved to a prison outside the city.
"I am incredibly scared right now," Mevlüde Karataş told the Reuters news agency. "We have already seen formal arrests have started. This is oppression."
Image source, ReutersAnother Imamoglu supporter, Cumali, who gave only his first name, said after recent events he felt too restless to stay at home.
"I think a lot of Turkey is this way," he said. "We are maybe living the most important days of our democracy in the last 100 years."
Image source, Reuters
Image source, ReutersTurkey’s main opposition party, the Republican People's Party (CHP), has named Ekrem Imamoglu as its candidate for the 2028 presidential election.
The decision follows a symbolic vote today.
Just an hour ago, the CHP shared a photo of Imamoglu on X with the caption, "our candidate for president".
But there are still big questions for Imamoglu.
For a start, he is now in jail, having been formally arrested and charged with corruption - Imamoglu has denied the allegations and said they are politically motivated.
On top of that, after Istanbul University revoked his degree over "irregularities", he may no longer meet the requirement under Turkey's constitution for presidential candidates to have a higher education qualification.
Imamoglu's lawyers said they would appeal the decision to revoke his degree to the Constitutional Court and the European Court of Human Rights.
The Supreme Election Council will decide whether Imamoglu is qualified to be a candidate.
Nassim Hatam
BBC Turkish
Image source, ReutersThe leader of the main opposition CHP, Ozgur Ozel, says nearly 15 million people have voted today in a symbolic primary to choose the party’s presidential candidate.
Istanbul’s mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, who was arrested today and sent to prison on corruption charges, was the only candidate.
Speaking at a rally in Istanbul, Ozel said about 1.6 million of these votes came from party members, while the rest were cast in solidarity.
The CHP set up two types of ballot boxes – official ones for members and additional ones for non-members wanting to show support against Imamoglu’s arrest.
The BBC cannot independently verify these figures.
Ballot boxes were placed across Turkey and in several countries to help decide the party’s 2028 presidential candidate. The winner still needs to be confirmed through an official process.
Ozel said the votes showed an early election was “inevitable”.
From prison, Imamoglu told his lawyers he was “very happy” with the “record turnout” and that the results showed people had said “enough” to Erdogan.
Cagil Kasapoglu
BBC World Service
Image source, EPAImamoglu is known for taking off his jacket and tie at rallies
During his political campaigns, Imamoglu has been praised for his soft, humorous approach to politics, which contrasts with that of many rivals in Turkey's polarised political landscape.
Broadening the CHP's secular base, he has managed to appeal to some of Turkey's more pious, conservative voters, who had traditionally voted for the AK, by including visits to mosques in his election campaigns and recently announcing the restoration of a historic mosque in Istanbul's popular Karakoy district.
His wife Dilek Imamoglu has also become a popular figure with her active presence on social media, involvement in charity work for the disabled people and appearances alongside her husband during his campaign.
The main opposition's primary election was scheduled for today (23 March), at which Imamoglu had been expected to be chosen as its candidate for the 2028 presidential vote.
But his arrest, and the annulment of his Istanbul University degree due to alleged irregularities, has put his candidacy in doubt.
According to the Turkish constitution, presidents must have completed higher education to hold office.
As we've been reporting, thousands of people have again been taking to the streets of Turkey tonight following a fifth day of protests.
Here are some of the latest images we've seen from Istanbul:
Image source, EPAA protester wearing a traditional whirling dervish costume gestures in front of Turkish riot police
Image source, EPAProtesters carry flags bearing the image of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founding father of the Turkish republic, as they try to march to Taksim Square in central Istanbul
Image source, EPAA protester holds up a sign reading "my clothes are cleaner than Erdogan" in front of a row of riot police
Image source, EPAThe moment a protester proposed to his girlfriend amid the demonstrations earlier
Tom Joyner
Live reporter
Image source, Getty ImagesIn a statement posted on X's Global Government Affairs account, external, the social media company says it objects to "multiple court orders" from Turkish authorities to block more than 700 accounts belonging to news organisations, journalists, political figures and students.
"We believe this decision from the Turkish government is not only unlawful, it hinders millions of Turkish users from news and political discourse in their country," it reads.
X says it will be challenging the block requests in court, and adds that it "will always defend freedom of speech everywhere we operate".
Ahead of Turkey's last presidential election in 2023, Human Rights Watch warned, external social media platforms that reject government demands could face hefty fines or bandwidth restrictions "that would render their platforms effectively unusable in Turkey".
Image source, ReutersPresident Recep Tayyip Erdogan has led Turkey for more than 20 years, reshaping his country more than any leader since Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the revered father of the modern republic.
He was prime minister from 2003 to 2014 before becoming president in what was then a largely ceremonial role.
A 2017 referendum gave him sweeping presidential powers, including the right to impose a state of emergency, appoint top public officials and intervene in the legal system.
Supporters credit him with driving economic growth, expanding the middle class and lifting millions out of poverty during his three terms as prime minister.
However, critics say the leader is undermining the country's secular democratic principles and supporting Islamist causes – something Erdogan denies.
Image source, Getty ImagesVoters crowd around a man casting a ballot in Istanbul
Imamoglu has shared a message from prison through his lawyers saying he's "very happy" about the "record turnout" in today's opposition primaries.
"I would like to share with you some news from Silivri Prison that makes me very happy," a post from his account on social media platform X, published just before 10pm local time, external (1900 GMT), says.
The message says tens of millions of Turks "who are suffering from the oppression of the government, the ruined economy, incompetence and lawlessness" have voted in the party's primary ballot.
The poll was held today to choose a candidate to run for the Republican People's Party (CHP) against President Erdogan in the 2028 presidential election.
Quote MessageThat ballot box will come and the people will give this government an unforgettable slap in the face."
Ekrem Imamoglu
Tom Joyner
Live reporter
Image source, EPAToday would have likely been the day Imamoglu was selected as his party's opposition candidate to run against President Erdogan in 2028.
Instead, he's in pre-trial detention on charges of corruption which he denies.
A primary ballot was held today across Turkey, with more than 1.5 million members of the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) urged to vote in solidarity with the arrested mayor.
Ballot boxes were present in districts all over Turkey for people to show their support for the detained mayor.
The party urged even non-members to endorse Imamoglu, in order to help boost public resistance to his arrest and detention.
Ekrem Imamoglu has been suspended from his post as Istanbul's mayor, Turkey's interior ministry says.
He was elected as mayor in 2019, before being re-elected in 2024, in what was widely seen to be a stunning defeat of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's AK Party. The president's term is due to run out in 2029.
On Tuesday, Istanbul University announced on Tuesday it was revoking Imamoglu's degree due to alleged irregularities.
If upheld, this would put his ability to run as president into doubt, since the Turkish constitution says presidents must have completed higher education to hold office.
Image source, Getty ImagesPeople walking past the main entrance to Istanbul University
We've just been seeing some footage from Istanbul showing tonight's demonstrations in Turkey.
Riot police appear to be using pepper spray against protesters. Thousands of people have been taking to the city's streets.
Watch: Police uses pepper spray on protesters in Turkey
Despite the demonstrations across Turkey being largely peaceful, riot police have repeatedly clashed with protesters and have been seen firing pepper gas and water cannons towards them.
Here are some memorable images from the past few days:
Image source, ReutersMassive demonstrations have been taking place across Turkey since Wednesday
Image source, GettyPolice reportedly fired tear gas and rubber bullets at demonstrators
Image source, Getty ImagesAuthorities had tried to stifle the street demonstrations with a several-day ban on all gatherings in Istanbul
Image source, Getty ImagesTurkish authorities said 343 people were arrested on Friday night
Image source, ReutersProtests are continuing on Sunday night after the jailing of Ekrem Imamoglu
Cagil Kasapoglu
BBC World Service
Image source, ReutersEkrem Imamoglu, the Turkish presidential hopeful detained on charges including corruption and aiding a terrorist group, is one of the country's most popular politicians.
A leading figure in the opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and mayor of Istanbul, the 54-year-old has long been seen as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's most formidable rival.
He stunned Erdogan and his ruling Justice and Development Party (AK) when he retained control over Istanbul in last year's municipality elections, winning a second successive mandate in Turkey's largest city.
Many political commentators in Turkey have referred to this as "Erdogan's worst defeat ever".
But Imamoglu's arrest, which came days before he was due to be selected as a candidate, prompted the CHP to warn of a "coup attempt against the next president".