Turkey Sees Continued Protests Against Erdogan's Crackdown on Opposition
On Monday, protests erupted across Turkey for the sixth straight day in response to the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a significant opponent of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Tens of thousands of individuals defied government bans, demonstrating their solidarity with Imamoglu, who is being targeted to preempt his participation in the upcoming presidential elections.
Although clashes with police were reportedly less intense compared to previous days, the rhetoric from Erdogan has escalated. In a recent speech, he adopted a combative tone, accusing Imamoglu's party, the Republican People's Party (CHP), of instigating violence during the largely peaceful protests. Erdogan's words carry heavy implications as he vowed to pursue political and judicial consequences against the opposition amid rising tensions.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya further intensified the language, asserting that protesters were engaging in acts that terrorize the populace and threaten national security. Demonstrations have faced a strong police response, including the use of water cannons and tear gas, notably in Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir—the cities where protests have been most concentrated.
On Monday alone, at least 71 more arrests were reported. The total number of arrests since the protests began has now reached 1,133, including at least eight journalists. The DiskBasinIs union, which has been tracking these incidents, accused the government of attempting to suppress media coverage of the protests, which are the largest seen since those in 2013, famously known as the Gezi protests that also opposed Erdogan.
During a rally outside the Istanbul municipality, CHP Secretary Özgür Özel called on supporters to boycott media outlets that align with the government. He also urged for the public broadcaster TRT to livestream Imamoglu's trial so he can directly address the politically motivated allegations against him.
Moments after Özel's speech, police resorted to using tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse crowds. The opposition is demanding Imamoglu's release pending trial, similar to the 44 individuals who were released last Wednesday. Currently, 47 individuals, including two district mayors from Istanbul, remain incarcerated alongside Imamoglu.
Imamoglu was nominated as the CHP candidate for the 2028 presidential elections during last Sunday's primaries, which he could not attend due to the ongoing legal troubles. His future and political prospects, as well as those of the entire opposition, hang in the balance as the situation in Turkey continues to unfold.
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