Watch: Istanbul residents bang pots and pans in protest

Istanbul has become the epicentre of growing unrest as thousands of residents took to the streets on Tuesday to protest the recent arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a key political opponent to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The protests, which began last week, have escalated into the largest demonstrations in Turkey in over a decade. Residents of the city, expressing their anger and frustration over Imamoglu's detention on corruption charges, took to an unusual form of protest: banging pots and pans. This act, often used to convey a message of defiance, resonated across the city, amplifying the voices of those demanding justice.

Imamoglu's arrest, viewed by opposition supporters as a politically motivated move aimed at silencing dissent ahead of future elections, has sparked widespread outrage. His supporters argue that the charges against him are baseless and represent a dangerous undermining of the rule of law in Turkey. In response, protesters have flooded the streets of Istanbul, voicing their condemnation of what they see as an authoritarian crackdown on opposition figures.

However, the Turkish authorities have not been passive in the face of the protests. The government has launched a heavy-handed response, with nearly 1,500 individuals detained, including journalists who were covering the events. Among those detained is AFP photographer Yasin Akgul, whose arrest has drawn international condemnation. Akgul was covering the protests when he was arrested by authorities and charged with "taking part in illegal rallies and marches." Despite his role as a journalist documenting the protests, the authorities have linked him to the demonstrations, sparking outrage in the international press community.

AFP has strongly condemned Akgul's detention. AFP's CEO and Chairman, Fabrice Fries, wrote a letter to the Turkish presidency calling for Akgul's immediate release. "His imprisonment is unacceptable. This is why I am asking you to intervene as quickly as possible to obtain the rapid release of our journalist," Fries stated.

The arrest of Akgul and six other journalists has raised significant concerns about press freedom in Turkey, with human rights groups warning that the government's crackdown on both protesters and media personnel represents a worrying trend in the erosion of fundamental democratic rights. The detentions also highlight the growing tension between Turkey's ruling government and its opposition and the shrinking space for free expression in the country.

As protests continue across Istanbul, the situation remains volatile. The city's residents, who have been using pots and pans to make their voices heard, are determined to stand firm in their demands for justice and accountability. With nearly 1,500 detained and the threat of further