Narratives from Turkey: Denouncing Erdoğan's enablers during his latest authoritarian move

April 15, 2025

On March 19, 2025, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu was detained along with approximately 105 other municipal officials and politicians on allegations of corruption and aiding a terrorist organization, just days before his expected primary election win to challenge President Erdoğan in 2028. Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc denied political motivations behind the arrests, claiming they represented the rule of law. In response, massive protests erupted across Turkey, with demonstrators voicing opposition to the arrests and concerns about eroding rights and freedoms, which were met with teargas and detentions by security forces.

Who is affected

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and around 105 other municipal officials and politicians who were detained
Turkish citizens participating in protests against the detentions
Hundreds of protesters who have been detained by security forces
Turkey's main opposition party, the Republican People's Party (CHP)
Turkish citizens concerned about the erosion of rights and freedoms
Turkish social media users who experienced censorship on X (formerly Twitter)
Opposition figures whose accounts were suspended on X during the protests

What action is being taken

Massive protests are erupting across Turkey in streets, university campuses, and subway stations
Security forces are responding to rallies with teargas, water cannons, and pepper spray
The Justice Minister is making public statements denying political motivations behind the arrests
The X platform is suspending multiple accounts of opposition figures in Turkey
European Union officials are maintaining pragmatic cooperation with Turkey despite the crackdown

Why it matters

This situation represents a significant escalation in autocratic practices under President Erdoğan's government, potentially threatening Turkey's democratic institutions. The timing of İmamoğlu's detention—days before he was expected to win his party's primary election—suggests political motivations, despite official denials. These developments are occurring within a complex international context where Turkey leverages its strategic importance in migration control, grain trade, and regional security to maintain relationships with the EU and US despite democratic backsliding. The social media platform X (formerly Twitter) is also implicated in potential censorship, limiting free expression during this political crisis, which echoes previous protest movements like the 2013 Gezi Park demonstrations.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: Global Voices