A Turkish court formally jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's main political opponent, prompting thousands Sunday night to take to the streets across the country in protest.

In the months preceding his arrest, Imamoglu intensified his criticism of Erdogan's administration, which led to several legal challenges against him.

Türkiye has been facing one of its most politically volatile moments in over a decade since the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, the most prominent rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan,