Istanbul (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – On Saturday, tens of thousands congregated in Istanbul to protest the imprisonment of Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, President Tayyip Erdogan’s primary rival, marking the largest protests in Turkey in over a decade.
Since Imamoglu’s detention last week and subsequent jailing on corruption charges, hundreds of thousands have responded to calls from the opposition and have gathered in protests across the country. While the demonstrations have generally remained peaceful, almost 2,000 individuals have been arrested.
Are corruption charges against Imamoglu politically motivated?
The Republican People’s Party (CHP), along with other opposition groups, rights organisations, and Western powers, claim that the charges against Imamoglu are politically motivated attempts to remove a potential electoral rival to Erdogan. The government claims it has no influence on the judiciary, stating that the courts operate independently.
On Saturday, tens of thousands of people holding Turkish flags and banners gathered at the sea-front rally grounds in Maltepe on Istanbul’s Asian side for the “Freedom for Imamoglu” event organised by the CHP.
“If justice is silent, the people will speak,”
said one banner held aloft in the crowd.
“The trend of the economy, the trend of justice, law – everything is getting worse. That is why we are here. We say ‘rights, law and justice’ and we are seeking our rights,”
said one CHP supporter who declined to give their name.
Last Sunday, the CHP conducted a primary election to nominate Imamoglu as a candidate for the upcoming presidential election. Although this election is slated for 2028, the CHP is advocating for an early election, claiming that the government has lost its legitimacy.
How is the Turkish government responding to mass protests?
This week, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya reported that almost 1,900 individuals have been detained since the onset of the protests, noting that as of Thursday, 260 of them have been imprisoned awaiting trial.
Erdogan, a dominant figure in Turkish politics for more than 20 years, has characterized the national protests as a “show”. He has also cautioned about potential legal repercussions and urged the CHP to cease “provoking” the Turkish people.
What impact have Imamoglu’s protests had on the economy?
Following Imamoglu’s arrest, Turkish financial assets have plummeted, forcing the central bank to utilize reserves to stabilize the lira. This upheaval has created significant disruption in the private sector.
The government indicated that the impact would be minor and short-lived. The bank noted that the fundamental dynamics of the economy remained intact, but they would implement additional measures if necessary.
