Turkey: Large crowds rally as Imamoglu appears in court

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a potential challenger to Turkey's longtime conservative President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, appeared in court on Saturday, charged with corruption and terrorism through alleged links to Kurdish militants.

Turkish prosecutors early on Sunday urged Imamoglu and four aides be jailed on the charges.

Imamoglu was detained on Wednesday, along with dozens of other prominent figures, including two district mayors.

Public protests have erupted in more than a dozen cities in response to the arrests. Many view Imamoglu's detention as as a politically-driven attempt to remove one of Erdogan's key rivals in the next presidential race, scheduled for 2028.

What do we know about Imamoglu's court appearance?

Imamoglu appeared at the Caglayan courthouse in Istanbul late on Saturday, Turkish television channels reported.

Earlier in the day, the 53-year-old mayor was quizzed by police for five hours. He denounced the accusations against him as "immoral and baseless," in a statement released by City Hall.

"This process has not only harmed Turkey's international reputation but has also shattered the public's sense of justice and trust in the economy," Imamoglu said.

News of his arrest badly hurt the Turkish lira and caused chaos in domestic financial markets.