Turkish authorities detained several journalists from their homes, a media workers’ union said Monday, calling it a crackdown amid growing protests triggered by the jailing of Istanbul's mayor, a top rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

An Istanbul court ordered the arrest of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s top rival on corruption charges, according to state-run media and a copy of the decision viewed by The Wall Street Journal,

A court formally arrested the mayor of Istanbul, a key rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on Sunday and ordered him jailed pending the outcome of a trial on corruption charges.Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was detained following a raid on his residence earlier this week,

Analysts say a convergence of international factors gave Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan the opportunity to try to neutralize Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, the main threat to him in elections due to be held in 2028.

It was around six years ago, when newcomer Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu called election board officials "idiots" for cancelling his initial victory at the polls, that President Tayyip Erdogan noticed him as a serious political threat.