The arrest of Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and key opposition figures has sparked one of the largest protest waves in Turkey in recent years, marking a dangerous turn toward authoritarianism. The move, seen as an attempt by President Erdoğan to eliminate his strongest rival ahead of the 2028 elections, involved politicised judicial action and media manipulation. Despite protest bans and media blackouts, millions across the country have taken to the streets in defiance. Economic instability, exacerbated by Erdoğan’s austerity policies and the lira’s sharp drop following the arrest, has further fuelled public anger. The protests have united various opposition and civil society groups, with the CHP opening its primaries to show solidarity with the jailed mayor. While Erdoğan’s crackdown has drawn muted international reaction, Turkish citizens are demonstrating remarkable resilience. By March 27th, there have been over 1.800 detonations and 260 arrestsrelated to the protests and civil disobedience in the streets of Istanbul. Read more here.
