Photo credit: www.theguardian.com
Demonstrations Erupt in Turkey Following Arrest of Istanbul Mayor
Last week, crowds gathered outside Istanbul’s city hall in response to the arrest of mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. Among the demonstrators, 26-year-old Azra expressed her initial hesitation to join protests due to restrictions on gatherings. However, witnessing the fervor among her peers compelled her to participate. “I saw the spark in people’s eyes and the excitement on their faces, and I decided I had to come down here,” she shared, surrounded by tens of thousands who ignored assembly bans to voice their dissent.
As the crowd swelled, Azra kept her identity private, fearing potential repercussions. Many protestors wore masks to evade facial recognition technology and protect themselves from tear gas often utilized by police. Despite the tense atmosphere, some attendees celebrated with smiles and selfies as fireworks lit up the night sky.
İmamoğlu’s arrest during a predawn operation has been characterized as a pivotal moment in Turkey’s ongoing decline in democratic governance. Critics of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan perceive the move as an attempt to eliminate a key challenger ahead of the upcoming elections, expected before 2028.
On Sunday, prosecutors began formal proceedings for İmamoğlu’s arrest, calling for him to remain in custody until trial. Protests erupted in Istanbul the following day, where clashes occurred with police, leading to the use of pepper spray and other crowd-control measures. In Ankara, authorities responded similarly with water cannons and tear gas against demonstrators.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya reported that 323 individuals were detained during Saturday’s protests. He emphasized his government’s stance, stating: “There will be no tolerance for those who seek to violate societal order, threaten the people’s peace and security, and pursue chaos and provocation.”
İmamoğlu, alongside over 100 others, has been accused of embezzlement and corruption, charges he vehemently denies. Additional allegations have surfaced labeling him a terrorist for purported collaboration with a left-wing political coalition, following significant electoral victories for opposition parties against Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) last year.
Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç dismissed accusations that the charges were politically motivated, asserting that associating them with President Erdoğan constituted “an act of audacity and irresponsibility.” Yet as protests escalated, Azra remarked, “This is bigger than İmamoğlu. It’s about a fight for democracy, law, and equal rights.”
Erdoğan has a longstanding ambition to regain control of Istanbul, where he began his political journey. As the protests gained momentum, participants expressed their frustration with various societal issues. Diler, a fellow protestor, highlighted the economic crisis and dissatisfaction with government policies, saying, “We are fed up with this government.”
Estimates suggest that 300,000 individuals joined the demonstrations in Istanbul, with videos capturing protests and confrontations with police across the nation. The Turkish government has heightened its efforts to suppress the unrest, implementing traffic blockades and deploying riot officers near city hall.
Government’s Response and International Reactions
Amid the rising tension, Erdoğan criticized the protests, asserting that Turkey will not yield to “street terrorism.” Despite the domestic outcry, international responses have been relatively muted. The most notable reaction was financial; following İmamoğlu’s arrest, the Turkish central bank reportedly expended $11.5 billion attempting to stabilize the lira as investor confidence waned.
While the UN called for adherence to due process, the U.S. State Department refrained from commenting on this internal matter. Just before İmamoğlu’s arrest, Erdoğan and former U.S. President Donald Trump engaged in a phone conversation, with reports suggesting Erdoğan seeks a meeting at the White House soon.
Political analysts have illuminated the implications of Erdoğan’s perceived confidence in the international arena, attributing this to a broader context where democratic norms seem increasingly overshadowed. Gönül Tol from the Middle East Institute noted that the current geopolitical landscape allows autocratic leaders to feel emboldened.
The lack of immediate backlash from European leaders, who have previously criticized Erdoğan, points to a complex reality. With shifting strategic considerations, particularly regarding Ukraine, there may be an increasing inclination to engage with Turkey rather than confront its domestic policies.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was notable for her criticism, asserting that Turkey “must protect democratic values, especially the rights of elected officials.” Yet analysts like Soner Cagaptay predict that such statements may yield little in terms of actual policy change.
Future of İmamoğlu and the Opposition
The Republican People’s Party (CHP) is expected to reaffirm İmamoğlu as its presidential candidate following a symbolic primary vote this weekend. Many of those gathered outside city hall expressed unwavering support for him, insisting he remains the opposition’s figurehead even if it means campaigning from prison.
Cagaptay pointed out that while international criticism remains sparse, efforts to undermine İmamoğlu could backfire, invoking historical parallels to Erdoğan’s own rise after his brief imprisonment in the 1990s. This narrative speaks to the potential for mobilization in the face of perceived oppression, as opposition voices continue to call for legal accountability and democratic integrity in Turkey.
Source
www.theguardian.com