Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu has said that he will not bow down after court ruled to jail him pending trial over corruption related investigation.
"We will, hand in hand, uproot this blow, this black staino n our democracy ... I am standing tall, I will not bow down," Mr İmamoğlu said in a post on X.
A court formally placed him under arrest in a corruption probe, four days after his detention sparked Turkey's worst unrest in over a decade.
The mayor is one of 100 people being investigated on corruption charges, and is also being probed in a second case on "terror-related" allegations, with the court due to rule on that in the coming hours.
Mr İmamoğlu was also facing terrorism charges.
"Although there is strong suspicion of aiding an armed terrorist organisation, since it has already been decided that he will be arrested for financial crimes, (his arrest) is not deemed necessary at this stage," the court said.
Mr İmamoğlu has denied the charges, calling them "unimaginable accusations and slanders."
Yesterday, thousands of people gathered outside the Istanbul municipality building and the main courthouse, with hundreds of police stationed at both locations using tear gas and pepper spray pellets to disperse protesters, as the crowd hurled firecrackers and other objects at them.
Protesters also clashed with police in the western coastal province of Izmir and the capital Ankara for a third night in a row, with police firing water cannon at the crowds.
Demonstrations in Dublin
There has also been demonstrations in Dublin.
Supporters of Mr İmamoğlu have been gathering on O'Connell St each day since Wednesday, and are planning another protest in St Stephen's Green today.
A spokesperson for a group called the Democratic Türkiye Community in Ireland accused authorities of turning Turkey into an "open air prison" and described Mr İmamoğlu’s arrest as a "political coup".
The Turkish government denies any influence over the matter and says the judiciary is independent.
Turkish authorities have detained 323 people during protests over the investigation, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said.
"No attempt to harm public order will be allowed," the minister said in a statement.
Mr İmamoğlu, 54, who leads the Turkish leader in some opinion polls, was due to be named the CHP's official presidential candidate within days.
The next election is set for 2028, but Mr Erdogan has reached his two-term limit as president after having earlier served as prime minister.
If he wishes to run again he must call an early election or change the constitution.
The president, who has run the country for more than 22 years, has accused the CHP of trying to "provoke" the nation, adding they would not tolerate vandalism.
