"I am ashamed of those who govern Turkey" - Özel met with Imamoğlu

The leader of Turkey’s opposition Republican People’s Party Özgür Özel visited his imprisoned colleague, former Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, on Tuesday.

After a two-hour visit to Silivri prison, Özel told reporters that he was ashamed of Turkey’s rulers and the situation the country has found itself in.

The opposition leader also announced that a rally would be held outside Istanbul’s city hall tonight.

Mass protests have been taking place in Istanbul and other major cities in Turkey for six days.

The demonstrations began after the March 19 arrests of the opposition mayor of Istanbul and his colleagues. Authorities accuse İmamoğlu of corruption and collaboration with terrorists. On March 23, a Turkish court ordered İmamoğlu to be detained and temporarily removed from office.

İmamoğlu denies the charges, calling them “slander.”