The recent street protests sweeping across Turkey may have initiated with the arrest of Istanbul’s highly regarded opposition mayor, but they encapsulate a wider spectrum of discontent within the nation, as noted by various observers.
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“There is a palpable anger. People are taking to the streets spontaneously. Many young individuals who previously disengaged from politics are now becoming politically active for the first time,” remarked Yuksel Taskin, a lawmaker with the main opposition party, CHP.
The arrest of Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu—who stands as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s most formidable political foe—occurred just days before the CHP was set to officially designate him as their candidate for the 2028 presidential elections. This event triggered an unprecedented wave of protests that, within 48 hours, expanded to over two-thirds of Turkey’s 81 provinces, including the traditional strongholds of Erdogan’s ruling AKP, such as Konya, Trabzon, and Rize along the Black Sea.
In spite of a protest ban and a significant police presence on the streets, large crowds have demonstrated their defiance, comprised of many university students who are typically less politically engaged. The scale of the current protests marks the largest outpouring of discontent in Turkey since the extensive demonstrations of 2013, which began in Istanbul’s Gezi Park and rapidly spread across the country.
“The pervasive sense of being cornered—economically, socially, politically, and even culturally—has been growing for some time,” stated Kemal Can, a journalist and the author of numerous works on Turkish society.
Mr. İmamoğlu’s detention has incited a vigorous response, particularly among youth concerned about their futures in a country where individual freedoms are increasingly under threat. “This reaction transcends İmamoğlu; it signals a broader dissatisfaction,” he emphasized.
Many young demonstrators have taken to voicing a poignant message: “We are the children of the ‘raiders’ who have now grown up,” referencing a term previously coined by Mr. Erdogan for the Gezi Park protesters back in 2013.
“This is not just about the CHP; it’s about the future of Turkey. The key question is whether we will continue under an authoritarian regime or embrace democracy,” asserted Ilhan Uzgel, who oversees the party’s external relations.
In a move to underscore the inclusive nature of this protest movement, the CHP has extended an invitation to all Turkish citizens, not just party members, to partake in a symbolic primary vote tomorrow, where Mr. İmamoğlu will be named the party’s presidential nominee. “We are committed to holding this primary, despite governmental attempts to impede it. It will proceed as planned,” Mr. Uzgel affirmed.
The pro-Kurdish opposition party, DEM, which is the third-largest party in parliament, has also shown its support for the demonstrations that have erupted outside Istanbul City Hall over the past three nights. “By manipulating the judiciary, the government is aiming to reshape the opposition to solidify its power,” explained DEM lawmaker Ibrahim Akin.
Although the government frequently accuses DEM of having affiliations with the banned Kurdish militant PKK—a group designated as a terrorist organization by Ankara—it appears to be moving away from decades of conflict. Last month, PKK founder Abdullah Ocalan encouraged his followers to cease hostilities and disband.
“For years, the government has attempted to fragment the opposition or entangle it in internal disputes. They have succeeded at times, but this time, the opposition has successfully countered that strategy,” noted Mr. Can.
Tensions were heightened, according to Gonul Tol of the Washington-based Middle East Institute, as the government’s attempts to “drive a wedge” between DEM and CHP through peace overtures toward the PKK have evidently faltered, especially after DEM’s strong condemnation of İmamoğlu’s arrest.
“The government appears to be assessing how long this wave of unrest will endure, hoping to diminish it through pressure, protest bans, and arrests,” warned Mr. Can. “If the opposition yields to threats from authorities, who are accusing it of inciting unrest, it risks projecting weakness, leading the government to escalate its pressure,” he cautioned, adding, “The coming days will be critical.”
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring.
