Protest in Ankara: Opposition mobilizes against İmamoğlus arrest!

Protest in Ankara: Opposition mobilizes against İmamoğlus arrest!

In Turkey, the opposition calls for a large rally in front of the parliament in Ankara, which is to take place on the occasion of the national holiday on Wednesday, April 23. The reason for this demonstration is the arrest of the Mayor of Istanbul Ekrem İmamoğlu a month ago that caused unrest nationwide. Özgür Özel, the chairman of the Republican People's Party (CHP), has announced that it will speak on the "Day of National Sovereignty" and to continue a wave of protest that has been going on since İmamoğlus and has been the largest since the 2013 Gezi protests. Özel emphasizes that the planned assembly and the march cannot be prevented from the Anitkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

The demonstration is particularly aimed at young people and students in Ankara, who are accessed at 5:00 p.m. (4 p.m. CEST) for participation. IMAMOğLU itself has explained from the Silivri high -security prison, where he has been imprisoned since March 25 for allegations of corruption, that he will pursue the march for national sovereignty. These words show the deep political conflict in which Turkey is currently located and underline the urgency with which the opposition raises its voice. İmamoğlu is not only a central figure within the CHP, but is also considered the greatest challenger of the incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

background of the protests

The protests were legend by the arrest and later indictment of İmamoğlu Grund, who was arrested on Wednesday and officially charged on Sunday for corruption. These developments have brought tens of thousands of people to the streets, despite an official ban on assembly that also made the conditions for protests even more difficult. In addition, there were clashes between the demonstrators and the riot police, with the Ministry of the Interior of at least 1,133 arresting and 123 injured police officers.

The allegations against İmamoğlu include the management of a criminal organization and the acceptance of bribes. Critics of the government see the charges as politically motivated, especially in view of the fact that ímamoğlu won the primary elections of the CHP on the day of his detention, where it was supported by almost 15 million voters. This increases the pressure on Erdoğan, whose approval scale drops and which only starts in upcoming elections if he changes the constitution.

The demonstrations, which also include many university students, throw a light on support among young voters and the broader demand for democracy and political change in Turkey. The concern about the development of political freedom is also shared by international voices, including an EU spokesman, who calls for the Turkish government for democratic action. The government's strategy of suppressing critics and spreading disinformation about social media is perceived by the demonstrators as an attack on the basic values ​​of democracy, which further tightens the already tense political situation.

In summary, the upcoming protests in Ankara show the determination of the opposition and the.deEP-Seated Political Tensions in Turkey as They Reflect on Fundamental Democratic Values ​​and Public Dissatis Faction with the Erdoğan Administration.