People all across Turkey have taken to the streets protesting the arrest of Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who stands as the main political rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Police have fired tear gas and rubber bullets at the protesters during what has become the worst public unrest the country has experienced in more than a decade. The demonstrations started in Istanbul on March 19, right after Imamoglu was taken into custody, just days before he was expected to become the presidential candidate for the secular Republican People's Party.
Even from his prison cell on Sunday, Imamoglu secured the party nomination for the 2028 election through a symbolic vote by party members. Government prosecutors accuse him of corruption, which he firmly denies. The investigation has already led to the detention of more than 100 additional people. He faces serious charges, including running a criminal organization, accepting bribes, extortion, illegal data collection, and manipulating business contracts. Officials have also removed him from his position as Istanbul mayor.
His party described the arrest as a direct attack on their future president and called for public demonstrations. Students at numerous Istanbul universities responded by protesting and shouting opposition slogans like "We are not scared, we won't be silenced, we will not obey." What began as relatively small demonstrations in the city of 16 million people quickly expanded across the nation, reaching a scale unseen for more than ten years. Most protests remained peaceful, though some confrontations occurred when police used water cannons and tear gas.
The government has recently intensified its crackdown on opposition politicians, journalists, and celebrities throughout Turkey. Many protesters express broader concerns beyond just Imamoglu's arrest, pointing to Turkey's shift toward autocratic rule under Erdogan and problems with the economy and healthcare system. University students make up a large segment of protesters. They gathered at Istanbul University near Beyazit last Wednesday, breaking through police lines and marching toward the municipal building in Sarchane.
By Thursday, protests had moved from campuses to streets across many cities. According to the interior minister, authorities have detained over 1,100 people since the demonstrations began. Police have also arrested at least ten journalists covering the events during early morning raids in Istanbul and Izmir. The Republican People's Party continued with its candidate selection process on Sunday, with supporters casting symbolic votes for Imamoglu despite his imprisonment.
A 29-year-old voter named Ferhat told reporters near city hall that any strong challenger to Erdogan typically ends up behind bars. He described the current situation as a dictatorship rather than actual politics. Another voter, 70-year-old Sukru Ilker, explained that protesters simply want to protect their elected candidate rather than clash with police. Ayten Oktay, a 63-year-old pharmacist, declared that Turkish citizens had awakened and would defend their rights completely.
President Erdogan has harshly criticized the demonstrations, stating his government would not surrender to what he called vandalism or street terror. He insists his administration cannot allow disruptions to public order. Despite government bans on public gatherings, protesters continue to assemble. Erdogan and his officials reject claims that the arrest was politically motivated and maintain that Turkish courts operate independently. The president accuses the opposition party chairman, Özgür Özel, of encouraging street unrest rather than addressing corruption allegations.
The European Commission issued a statement Monday urging Turkey to maintain democratic values. The statement reminded the country of its membership in the Council of Europe and its candidacy for European Union membership. Erdogan has held power for 22 years as both prime minister and president of the Islamist-rooted Justice and Development Party he established. Term limits prevent him from seeking office again in 2028 unless constitutional changes occur.
His government survived an attempted coup in 2016 that resulted in violent street battles in Istanbul and Ankara, killing 256 people. Supporters credit him with bringing economic growth to Turkey, but critics see him as an authoritarian leader who silences all opposition. The UK Foreign Office has not updated its travel guidance for Turkey during these protests, though its standard advice notes that city demonstrations can turn violent with police using water cannons and tear gas.
British officials recommend avoiding all protests and leaving areas where demonstrations develop. They advise against any travel within 6 miles of the Syrian border due to ongoing conflict and increased terrorism risks in that region.
Even from his prison cell on Sunday, Imamoglu secured the party nomination for the 2028 election through a symbolic vote by party members. Government prosecutors accuse him of corruption, which he firmly denies. The investigation has already led to the detention of more than 100 additional people. He faces serious charges, including running a criminal organization, accepting bribes, extortion, illegal data collection, and manipulating business contracts. Officials have also removed him from his position as Istanbul mayor.
His party described the arrest as a direct attack on their future president and called for public demonstrations. Students at numerous Istanbul universities responded by protesting and shouting opposition slogans like "We are not scared, we won't be silenced, we will not obey." What began as relatively small demonstrations in the city of 16 million people quickly expanded across the nation, reaching a scale unseen for more than ten years. Most protests remained peaceful, though some confrontations occurred when police used water cannons and tear gas.
The government has recently intensified its crackdown on opposition politicians, journalists, and celebrities throughout Turkey. Many protesters express broader concerns beyond just Imamoglu's arrest, pointing to Turkey's shift toward autocratic rule under Erdogan and problems with the economy and healthcare system. University students make up a large segment of protesters. They gathered at Istanbul University near Beyazit last Wednesday, breaking through police lines and marching toward the municipal building in Sarchane.
By Thursday, protests had moved from campuses to streets across many cities. According to the interior minister, authorities have detained over 1,100 people since the demonstrations began. Police have also arrested at least ten journalists covering the events during early morning raids in Istanbul and Izmir. The Republican People's Party continued with its candidate selection process on Sunday, with supporters casting symbolic votes for Imamoglu despite his imprisonment.
A 29-year-old voter named Ferhat told reporters near city hall that any strong challenger to Erdogan typically ends up behind bars. He described the current situation as a dictatorship rather than actual politics. Another voter, 70-year-old Sukru Ilker, explained that protesters simply want to protect their elected candidate rather than clash with police. Ayten Oktay, a 63-year-old pharmacist, declared that Turkish citizens had awakened and would defend their rights completely.
President Erdogan has harshly criticized the demonstrations, stating his government would not surrender to what he called vandalism or street terror. He insists his administration cannot allow disruptions to public order. Despite government bans on public gatherings, protesters continue to assemble. Erdogan and his officials reject claims that the arrest was politically motivated and maintain that Turkish courts operate independently. The president accuses the opposition party chairman, Özgür Özel, of encouraging street unrest rather than addressing corruption allegations.
The European Commission issued a statement Monday urging Turkey to maintain democratic values. The statement reminded the country of its membership in the Council of Europe and its candidacy for European Union membership. Erdogan has held power for 22 years as both prime minister and president of the Islamist-rooted Justice and Development Party he established. Term limits prevent him from seeking office again in 2028 unless constitutional changes occur.
His government survived an attempted coup in 2016 that resulted in violent street battles in Istanbul and Ankara, killing 256 people. Supporters credit him with bringing economic growth to Turkey, but critics see him as an authoritarian leader who silences all opposition. The UK Foreign Office has not updated its travel guidance for Turkey during these protests, though its standard advice notes that city demonstrations can turn violent with police using water cannons and tear gas.
British officials recommend avoiding all protests and leaving areas where demonstrations develop. They advise against any travel within 6 miles of the Syrian border due to ongoing conflict and increased terrorism risks in that region.
