Turkey has escalated its crackdown on the opposition by banning all images and audio recordings of the detained opposition leader and Istanbul mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu.
Imamoglu was arrested in March on fabricated corruption charges after President Erdogan deemed him a significant challenger in upcoming presidential elections.
This move followed mass protests in Istanbul demanding his release, prompting authorities to arrest 44 individuals, many from the media or local government.
Imamoglu's popularity has surged since his arrest, surpassing Erdogan in independent polls. US Senator Adam Schiff recently introduced a resolution urging Erdogan to release Imamoglu immediately, citing 'anti-democratic behavior.'
The Turkish financial markets have also suffered, with the Lira plummeting, forcing the central bank to raise interest rates.