Erdogan in the crisis: Hundreds of thousands demand freedom for İmamoğlu!

Erdogan in the crisis: Hundreds of thousands demand freedom for İmamoğlu!

In Turkey, numerous people took to the streets on March 29, 2025 to protest the arrest of Ekrem İmamoğlu, the mayor of Istanbul and member of the Republican People's Party (CHP). These protests were triggered by the arrest of İmamoğlus on March 19 due to corruption and terrorist allegations. According to the CHP, over two million demonstrators combined in Istanbul and demanded freedom for İmamoğlu and the end of President Erdoğan's era. vienna.at reports that the slogan of the protest movement "Her Şey Ç Güzel Olacak" ("Everything will be good") loud and unmistakable through the streets.

The dimension of the protests is reminiscent of the Gezi uprisings in 2013 when millions of against political repression in Turkey went on the streets. The political scientist Dr. Ismail Küpeli from the Ruhr University Bochum compared the current wave of protests to these events and emphasized that the protests not only affect İmamoğlu, but also reflect more political concerns. ZDF indicates that the broad opposition, which ranges from extreme right to the left, supports İmamoğlu, which is further attached to the political climate in Turkey.

police force and repression

Despite the assembly bans and increasing police violence, people cannot be stopped. According to reports, the police in Ankara used tear gas and water cannons against the demonstrators, while almost 2,000 people were arrested nationwide, including international journalists. Vienna.at continues that İmoğlus prison, now a symbol of the political repression in the Türkiye applies.

Support for President Erdoğan decreases according to current surveys what the political landscape in Turkey could destabilize. Küpeli looks worries into the future and says that there are two possible scenarios: either the government recognizes the broad opposition, or the protest movement is violently depressed, similar to the GEZI protests.

a symbol of hope

The CHP announced weekly protests and a signature campaign for the resignation of Erdoğan. If the protesters have to face a repressive regime, the willingness to defend democracy and political change was impressively demonstrated. Over 15 million people have already voted online for İmamoğlu as presidential candidates for the 2028 elections, which underlines its outstanding support within the population.

İmamoğlu spoke about his cell to the people who demonstrate for his freedom. This connection gives the demonstrating strength and shows that the fight for democracy in Turkey continues. According to ZDF , the power struggle between Erdoğan and the opposition forces will be decisive for the future of Turkish democracy.