Protests have broken out across Türkiye in response to the arrest of the leading political rival of President Erdoğan, Ekrem İmamoğlu.
On 19 March, İmamoğlu was detained on corruption charges, just a day after Istanbul University controversially revoked his diploma. He denies the charges, labelling them a part of a “smear campaign.” He declared that the annulment of his diploma was “unlawful” and outside of the university’s authority.
These actions threaten İmamoğlu’s ability to run for president. According to the Turkish constitution, a president must have a university degree and cannot have a criminal record.
This detainment was seen as an attack on Turkish democracy and spurred the first protest of around 100 people outside the police building where İmamoğlu was being held.
Following this are ongoing protests nationwide over the past week in support of İmamoğlu, voicing their anger towards Erdoğan’s actions.
Whilst the catalyst for this unrest is İmamoğlu, the sheer popular support for the demonstrations suggests that this has been an explosion of lingering discontent towards the increasingly authoritarian Erdoğan and has little signs of relenting.
This sentiment is attested by Turkish Students attending Edinburgh. A.E.O. stated that the protests are a response from the Turkish people in the face of losing “our democracy, our constitution, our future.”
B.U. asserted Erdoğan is “killing democracy” through his actions, and İ.G. affirms that Turkish students “stand in solidarity with all those fighting for justice.”
The Scottish representative of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) has made a statement, which can be read here.
The overwhelming discontent is visible not just in the streets but also at the ballot box. While İmamoğlu was imprisoned, 15 million people voted in favour of his candidacy for president in the 2028 election.
It is difficult for people in Türkiye to know the full extent of the situation as the majority of the media in Türkiye is controlled by the state. The media watchdog RTUK has put restrictions in place, banning broadcasts of the protest.
Erdoğan has deemed these gatherings to have been provoked by the CHP and labelled the protestors as “street terrorists.”
Protests have been banned in Istanbul, and riot police have been deployed and have used a series of violent measures on the protestors, such as tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets.
Despite these restrictions, the number of protesters is reportedly in the thousands, with around 2,000 people arrested.
This is a developing story.
Image via Ege Kızılarslan