Turkey - March 2025

Following the arrest of Istanbul’s Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu on 19 March for alleged corruption and aid to terrorists - and his replacement by a government appointee - Türkiye saw its largest protests in over a decade despite a four-day protest ban. Around 300,000 rallied in Istanbul, and protests spread to about 55 out of the 81 provinces. Authorities have cracked down on journalists, including through the deportation of a BBC correspondent. The Interior Ministry stated that over 1,400 protesters were detained. Amnesty International reported that protesters were met with “unrelenting” force. Imamoğlu, a member of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), is considered President Erdoğan’s main political opponent. His arrest has been regarded as politically motivated.  In 2022, Imamoğlu was also sentenced to prison and was banned from political activity on the basis of insulting public officials. His appeal process in that case is pending. Other CHP and pro-Kurdish politicians were arrested at the end of 2024.  

Sources: Al Jazeera, Euro News, Amnesty International, British Broadcasting Corporation (1), British Broadcasting Corporation (2), Civil Rights Defenders, International IDEA (1), International IDEA (2)