For the past five nights, hundreds of thousands of people have descended on the streets of Türkiye to protest.
Dramatic vision shows demonstrators launching fireworks at riot police, who are in turn deploying rubber bullets, pepper spray and water cannons in an attempt to quell the unrest.
The mostly peaceful crowds are protesting against the arrest of popular Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on corruption charges.
It is seen by many as a politically driven attempt by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to eliminate a key rival.
So what exactly is happening in Türkiye?
Here's what we know so far.
What has happened so far?
It all started last Wednesday, when Mr Imamoglu was detained for questioning as part of investigations into alleged corruption and terror links.
This news immediately sparked widespread protests — the largest wave of street demonstrations in Türkiye for more than a decade.
On Sunday, a court formally arrested Mr Imamoglu and ordered him jailed, pending a trial on corruption charges.
This happened as voters were heading to the polls for the Republican People's Party (CHP) primary to name Mr Imamoglu the party's candidate for the 2028 presidential race.
The CHP is the main opposition party in Türkiye and Mr Imamoglu is a popular figure.
Why are people protesting in Türkiye?
Mr Imamoglu's arrest has been widely condemned as a political move to remove a major contender from the next presidential race.
And it's seen by many as a dramatic escalation in crackdowns on the opposition and dissenting voices in Türkiye.
The arrest has also raised concerns about the fairness of future elections under Mr Erdogan.
Many say he has grown increasingly authoritarian during his more than two-decade rule as prime minister and president.
The unrest has spread rapidly despite a protest ban in Türkiye's three largest cities and a warning from Mr Erdogan that authorities will not tolerate "street terror".
What does the government say?
The Turkish government has dismissed protesters' accusations.
It insists Türkiye's courts operate independently.
The prosecutor's office said the court decided to detain Mr Imamoglu due to a lengthy list of allegations.
These include running a criminal organisation, accepting bribes, extortion, illegally recording personal data and bid-rigging.
A request for him to be imprisoned on terror-related charges was rejected although he still faces prosecution.
On Saturday, in a statement released by City Hall, Mr Imamoglu denied the charges against him, telling police his arrest had done untold damage to Türkiye's image.
"This process has not only harmed Türkiye's international reputation but has also shattered the public's sense of justice and trust in the economy," he said.
What is Ekrem Imamoglu's appeal?
Experts say the 53-year-old mayor is the biggest challenge President Erdogan has ever faced.
As of Sunday night, 15 million people have voted in support of Mr Imamoglu — about 13 million from non-party members.
Ahmet Kuru, a professor of political science at San Diego State University, says the Istanbul mayor is a symbol of unity, after decades of "deep division" between Islamists and secularists.
"[Mr Imamoglu] emerged in the secular party funded by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the secular founder of the Republican People's Party," he said.
"But at the same time, he is appealing [to] the Islamic voters because he is a practising Muslim able to recite the Koran.
"Therefore, he is now appealing [to] both sides of the electorate.
"That makes him the most popular candidate for the next presidential election."
Why should I be interested in these protests?
Professor Kuru says what happens next in Türkiye is "crucial".
And he says Türkiye has been one of the "early examples" of right-wing populism that is now "dominating" the US and European countries.
"So if the right-wing populist leader faced a popular resistance and needed to leave, it will have huge global implications," he said.
What will Erdogan do next?
Mr Erdogan is a "very pragmatic man" and "always makes strategic choices", according to Professor Kuru.
But he said the president was facing a number of "major challenges".
"First of all, he's aging. He is now 72 years old," Professor Kuru said.
"He doesn't have a crown prince. He doesn't know who will be his successor."
Professor Kuru says the Turkish economy is also "in crisis", battling 50 per cent inflation and a currency with a falling value.
"So if Erdogan increases authoritarianism, the economic crisis will be deeper," Professor Kuru said.
"Türkiye needs to go back to … democracy in order to fix the economic crisis.
"That's Erdogan's dilemma."
ABC/AP
