A Turkish court sentenced Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu to jail on Sunday pending trial, state media and other broadcasters reported. The decision is likely to spark the nation’s largest protests in more than a decade.
Imamoglu, regarded as President Tayyip Erdogan’s key political opponent, was arrested amid widespread condemnation by the main opposition party, European leaders, and tens of thousands of protesters condemning the action as a politically motivated move.
The court said Imamoglu and at least 20 other people were arrested in relation to a corruption inquiry. In addition, another ruling on a terror case is pending.
