EU delegation visits jailed Erdoğan rival Ekrem İmamoğlu in Istanbul prison

A delegation from the European Union, including Vice-President of the European Parliament Katarina Barley, has visited jailed Istanbul Mayor and Republican People's Party (CHP) presidential candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu, who is being held in Istanbul's Marmara Prison.

İmamoğlu was arrested on 19 March on charges of corruption and links to a terrorist organisation and jailed days later.

The Istanbul mayor is a key political challenger to Erdoğan's 22-year rule and many see his detention as politically motivated, although the government insists the judiciary is independent and free of political interference.

Party of European Socialists (PES) President Stefan Löfven, Vice President of the European Parliament Katarina Barley and MEPs Dario Nardella and Evin İncir issued a statement following the visit.

"The PES is in Istanbul to stand with the Turkish democratic opposition in their call to (Turkish President Recep Tayyip) Erdoğan to stop the arrests and to free political prisoners," the statement read.

After the visit, a post was also shared on İmamoğlu's X account.

"Their visit at this critical moment reflects a clear and principled commitment to democratic norms, judicial independence and the protection of fundamental rights. This visit also represents growing international concern regarding the current trajectory of democratic institutions in Türkiye. It reaffirms that the suppression of political participation through judicial means is incompatible with the values shared by democratic societies," the post said.

Afterwards, the delegation visited the CHP's provincial headquarters and met with party chairman, Özgür Özel.

İmamoğlu was formally arrested and jailed on 23 March as part of the investigation into alleged corruption.

The same day, the CHP officially nominated him as their candidate for the presidential election with 15 million votes, due to take place some time in 2028.

İmamoğlu was then suspended from his post as mayor by the Interior Ministry, with the CHP naming Nuri Aslam as interim mayor.

İmamoğlu's arrest has sparked mass protests in major cities across Turkey, the biggest wave of social unrest in more than a decade.

Police have responded to the protests with pepper spray, tear gas and water cannons.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said that nearly 1,900 people have been arrested since 19 March.