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In a dramatic turn of events, Turkish authorities have arrested more than 300 individuals in the most significant opposition protests in over ten years. These demonstrations erupted following the detention of Istanbul’s popular mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, this past Wednesday. İmamoğlu, seen as a primary political contender to Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkey’s enduring leader, was apprehended on charges of corruption and terrorism.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya noted that 343 individuals were detained across protests in Istanbul, Ankara, and several other cities. İmamoğlu, however, is adamant in his innocence. His supporters argue that Erdoğan is leveraging the police and judiciary to thwart his political ambitions. Meanwhile, the justice minister insists that the investigations are not politically driven, asserting the independence of Turkish courts.
This development has thrown Turkey into political and economic disarray. The arrest triggered a steep decline in Turkish assets, prompting the central bank to intervene by selling vast amounts of its reserves to stabilize the plunging lira amid soaring inflation rates of around 40%.
Furthermore, this incident has galvanized an opposition that has weathered extensive repression during Erdoğan’s 22-year rule, particularly in the realms of free speech and assembly. Since the massive Gezi Park protests in 2013, which drew hundreds of thousands, the government has largely quelled large-scale political demonstrations, a move seen as part of Erdoğan’s shift towards more authoritarian governance.
In a message posted on social media platform X, Yerlikaya stated, “Those who seek to disrupt the social order, threaten the peace and security of our nation and seek chaos and provocation will never be given a chance and will absolutely not be tolerated.”
Despite a ban on public gatherings, protesters in Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir are heeding the main opposition Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) call to peacefully rally every evening until İmamoğlu is released. While largely peaceful, Friday night saw riot police in Istanbul resorting to tear gas and rubber bullets to control demonstrators who challenged police lines, with reports indicating similar police actions, including water cannons, in Ankara and Izmir.
Erdoğan, addressing the nation on Friday, vowed that Turkey “will not surrender to street terrorism,” dismissing the CHP’s protest call as misguided. “We will not allow a handful of thieves within the CHP to turn their own issues into the people’s issues,” Erdoğan declared.
İmamoğlu, after enduring lengthy interrogations by police on Friday and Saturday, is expected to be brought before prosecutors. Under Turkish anti-terrorism statutes, he can be held without charge for up to four days.
His arrest comes just days ahead of a CHP primary to determine their presidential candidate. Despite the turmoil, the party plans to proceed with a nationwide vote on Sunday, open to both its members and the general public. İmamoğlu, who has served as Istanbul’s mayor since 2019, remains the sole candidate for the nomination.
Although a general election isn’t slated until 2028, the CHP hopes that nominating İmamoğlu might spur parliament to call early elections. Polls consistently show İmamoğlu outstripping Erdoğan, fueled by public discontent over the president’s management of the cost-of-living crisis.
While Erdoğan faces term limits preventing another run, his supporters are advocating for constitutional changes to enable him to extend his tenure into a third decade.
