The arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu in Turkey has sparked massive protests and is seen as politically motivated. Imamoglu, a member of the Republican People's Party (CHP), was expected to challenge President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the upcoming elections. The arrest comes at a crucial time as Turkey is at a crossroads and could play a larger role in the region. The arrest has potential global ramifications as other authoritarians may take cues from it. The opposition parties in Turkey oppose the arrest, but it is likely that it will proceed.