Protests in Turkey: Opposition fights for imamoglu and freedom!

Protests in Turkey: Opposition fights for imamoglu and freedom!

Istanbul, Türkei - The Turkish opposition plans to expand the protests for the detained Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. This was announced by CHP politician Özel on March 27, 2025. The demonstrations are to be continued until either early presidential election is scheduled or imamoglu is released from prison. The first planned demo in Istanbul is scheduled to take place this Saturday and opens the CHP campaign to position Imamoglu as a presidential candidate for the elections in 2028. Imamoglu is considered the most promising challenger of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for this choice.

Imamoglu was arrested on March 19 under corruption and terrorist allegations and shortly afterwards was removed as mayor of Istanbul. Despite the massive protests that have mobilized hundreds of thousands since his arrest, he is in solitary confinement in the Silivri high-security prison, where he is reported in good shape and without signs of ill-treatment. His supporters see the allegations against him as a political attempt to clear him out of the way. A Turkey expert describes the current developments as politically motivated and feared that the detained opposition politicians will further endanger democracy in the country.

protests and repression

The current protests are the largest that Turkey has experienced for over a decade and are reminiscent of the 2013 Gezi protests, which were aimed against authoritarian politics and a controversial construction project. At that time, the protests were brutally depressed by the government, which she classified as a attempt to cope. Over 1,400 people have been arrested since the beginning of the current protests, and almost 1,000 are still in custody, including several journalists.

The pressure on Imamoglu is further intensified. Shortly after a press conference, in which he denounced the persecution by the judiciary, the Istanbul General Prosecutor initiated a new investigation against him. The allegations against the political rival of Erdogans mostly refer to opinion crimes, with the exception of a corruption edition in connection with its previous official business. Imamoglu itself has already been convicted and is also exposed to further procedures that aim to switch it off politically.

political future and elections

The political situation in Turkey is increasingly complex. Erdoğan is facing falling popularity, while the CHP has gained approval in surveys. A leading expert warns that Turkey could develop into a autocracy if the political and economic situation does not stabilize. A more than one -year imprisonment could exclude Imamoglu from a candidacy for the presidential elections, and the loss of his university degree could also be doomed.

These confrontations are not only limited to imamoglu. Other political and cultural personalities also learn repression that range from dramatic arrests to investigation against critical voices. The CHP district mayor of Beşiktaş was released and arrested due to the alleged corruption of his office, and the cultural industry is also affected by a growing campaign against supposed opponents of the government.

The situation in Turkey remains tense. The upcoming protests and the ongoing political pressure indicate that the arguments between the opposition and the government are far from over. Another unforeseeable chapter in the political landscape of Türkiye is emerging.