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Tens of thousands of people across Türkiye have protested the arrest of Mayor Iklem Imamogur, President Receptacle Tayyip Erdogan’s main political rival.
The protesters were fired for tear gas and rubber bullets, which have been the worst anxious in the country for over a decade.
What sparked the protest?
The demonstration began in Istanbul on March 19th and was triggered by the arrest of opposition politician Ekrem Imamoguru early that day.
Imamoguru was scheduled to be elected presidential candidate for the secular Republican People’s Party (CHP). He was confirmed as a party candidate for the 2028 election from his prison on Sunday, following the iconic vote.
Prosecutors have accused Imamoguru of being corrupt, but he denies it. More than 100 people have been detained as part of the investigation.
He was officially arrested on Sunday and charged with “establishing and managing criminal organizations, taking bribery, terror, illegal records of personal data, and rigging bids.” He was also suspended from his post as mayor of Istanbul.
His CHP party said the arrest represented a “coup against our next president” and called for supporters to protest and take him onto the streets.
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Police clashed with protesters in Ankara
A student demonstrated at multiple universities in Istanbul said, “We will not be scared, we will not be silent, we will not follow” – the slogan of the general opposition in Turkey.
The protest began with the relatively small size of the city, with over 16 million people.
However, they have since spread to dozens of other cities in Türkiye, and are now at a level not seen in over a decade.
The demonstration was largely peaceful, but there was a clash with police using water cannons and tear gas.
Over the past few months, there have been major national crackdowns along with officials targeting government politicians, journalists and entertainment industry figures.
Some protesters say the demonstrations represent a move to Turkish dictatorship and broader concerns about the economy and healthcare.
Who is protesting?
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Students have been protesting at Istanbul University since Imamoguru’s arrest
Many of the people who are protesting Imamoguru’s arrest are university students.
Students from various universities gathered in front of Istanbul University near the Baiajit region on Wednesday, breaking through police barricades and moving towards Salchan, where the buildings in the Istanbul metropolitan municipality are located.
Thursday’s protests were also held on multiple university campuses in Istanbul before spreading to the streets.
More than 1,100 people have been detained since the demonstrations began, according to the Turkish Home Minister.
At least 10 journalists covering the protests are also being detained in Istanbul and Izmir during the dawn attacks by police.
The CHP continued its vote for the party’s presidential candidate on Sunday, with supporters heading to the ballot box with Imamoguru’s iconic vote despite the arrests.
Speaking to AFP near Istanbul’s city hall, 29-year-old voter Velhatt said: “Whenever you have a strong opponent.” [to Erdogan]they are constantly incarcerated.
“Now there’s a dictatorship in Türkiye. There’s nothing else. It’s just a name-only politics.”
Meanwhile, 70-year-old Skul Ilkar said protesters didn’t want to “facing the police” and didn’t want the city to protect candidates they voted for.
Ayten Oktay, a 63-year-old pharmacist, said Türkiye has “wakened” and added that he “protects his rights until the very end.”
How did the Turkish government respond?
President Receptive Tayyip Erdogan condemned the protest, saying his government would not “subversive” or “street terrorism.”
“We don’t accept the chaos of public order,” he said.
Turkish authorities have banned public gatherings, but this has not blocked protesters.
Erdogan and his administration also denied the politically motivated claims that Imamoguru’s arrest was politically motivated, claiming that Turkish judiciary is independent.
The Turkish president says the CHP has accused the party of failing to respond to allegations of corruption, and has made party chair Özgürözel of uneasy on the streets.
The European Commission on Monday urged Turkey to “support democratic values” as a country that is both a member of the Council of Europe and a candidate to participate in the EU.
How much power does Erdogan hold?
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Erdogan has been in office for the past 22 years as both the prime minister and president of the Muslim-based Justice Development Party (AKP) that he founded.
Due to time limits, he will not be able to re-inaust in 2028 unless he changes the constitution.
He and his AKP government survived an attempted coup in 2016, killing 256 people after seeing a clash on the streets between Istanbul and Ankara.
To his supporters, Erdogan has brought about years of economic growth in Turkey, but to his critics he is an opposition-to-tolerable dictatorial leader that silences anyone who opposes him.
What is Türkiye’s latest travel advice?
The UK Foreign Office has not updated its travel advice to Türkiye since the current demonstrations.
However, the advice page notes that demonstrations in the city can be violent and police are known to have used water cannons and tear gas to disperse the crowd.
It is recommended to avoid all demonstrations and leave the area if it develops.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises all trips within 10km (6 miles) of the Syrian border due to increased risks of combat and terrorism.
For more advice on travelling to Türkiye, see here.
