An Agence France-Presse (AFP) photographer detained in Turkey during mass protests earlier this week was released on Thursday, AFP reported.

AFP previously requested the rapid release of Yasin Akgul, stating that he was not a part of the protest and that his imprisonment was "unacceptable." The authorities, on the other hand, accused him of participating in "illegal rallies." Akgul's lawyer said the charges against him were not dropped, despite his release.

Mass protests broke out in Istanbul and other large cities across Turkey after the authorities arrested Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on corruption charges. He was widely regarded as the most serious challenger to incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the 2028 presidential election.