TURKEY IN REVOLT:

Translated by Irene Cecchi

Lately, the Turkish population has taken to the streets of the Country’s main cities, in a way not seen in 10 years. If the massive protests in Istanbul over Gezi Park a decade ago were aimed at countering Erdoğan’s actions as Prime Minister, today the enemy remains the same; what has changed is the motivation and the increasingly authoritarian role of Erdoğan, now serving as the President of Turkey.

The trigger for the protests was the arrest, on Wednesday, March 19th, of Ekrem İmamoğlu, mayor of Istanbul since 2019, now suspended from office, and leading political rival to President Erdoğan. A member of the Republican People’s Party (CHP)—center-left but with some nationalist elements—İmamoğlu has become a symbol of hope for millions of Turks who oppose Erdoğan’s authoritarian policies.

His arrest raises serious concerns: in recent years, Erdoğan has increasingly concentrated power in his own hands, weakening democratic institutions, limiting freedom of the press and silencing any governamental opposition. His strategy includes manipulating the justice system to eliminate potential political threats. In early February, ten public officials from the Istanbul municipality, all members of İmamoğlu’s party, were arrested for alleged links to Kurdish militants affiliated with the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party). İmamoğlu stated these arrests were “the whims of a man who considers himself above the will of the people”.

İmamoğlu was arrested with the same charges: abetting the PKK.

A statement from the Prosecutor’s Office claimed: “The judge has decided to arrest the suspect Ekrem İmamoğlu for the crimes of establishing and leading a criminal organization, accepting bribes, extortion, illegal collection of personal data and bid rigging as part of a financial investigation, along with a strong suspicion of aiding an armed terrorist organization”.

Just days before the arrest, Istanbul University officially revoked İmamoğlu’s degree due to alleged irregularities. If confirmed, this decision could prevent him from running in the 2028 presidential elections. The arrest itself would not automatically disqualify him, but a final conviction would.

Both the arrest and the degree revocation are widely seen as a political move by Erdoğan to block İmamoğlu’s candidacy for the 2028 presidential race. Supporting this, on Sunday, March 23rd, İmamoğlu won 15 million votes in the primaries.

The protests that it generated sparked in various Turkish cities, with thousands taking to the streets. In Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir, demonstrations, mainly led by students, were met with violent repression: over 1,400 people were arrested, including 9 journalists, and authorities used disproportionate force against peaceful protesters. Internet traffic was also disrupted and access to social media and communication between protesters was restricted. The Turkish government justified these actions as necessary to maintain order but many suspect they reflect an inability to tolerate dissent.

The UN expressed deep concern over the mass arrests in Turkey, calling on authorities to start an investigation into the alleged use of excessive force against demonstrators.

Liz Throssell, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, stated: “We are also very concerned about the arrest of İmamoğlu, the democratically elected mayor of Istanbul”.

“The arrests of Mayor İmamoğlu and over 300 protesters raise serious questions about Turkey’s commitment to its long-standing democratic tradition. As a member of the Council of Europe and a candidate country for EU accession, Turkey is obligated to respect democratic values", warned the EU.

What’s happening in Turkey fits into a worrying global context, raising questions about the future of democracy both in the Country and worldwide. When leaders see themselves as above the law, they not only undermine institutional credibility but also call into question the very principles of the rule of law. Figures such as Donald Trump in the United States, Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel and Viktor Orbán in Hungary have shown similar tendencies, undermining the checks and balances that guarantee democracy.

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