Türkiye in turmoil: Protests against imamoglus arrest grow!

Türkiye in turmoil: Protests against imamoglus arrest grow!

Istanbul, Türkei - The political situation is tense in Turkey after the mayor of Istanbul and opposition leader Ekrem Imamoglu arrested on March 19, 2025. The arrest led to massive protests in which tens of thousands of people in cities such as Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir took part. The demonstrators turn against the allegations of terrorism and corruption, from which Imamoglu suffers. In front of the public's eyes, the police used rubber bullets, pepper spray and glare grenades to end the protests. These measures are part of a number of hard measures that Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya has announced in order to control the increasingly critical situation. While 343 people were arrested during the protests, the opposition leader Özgür Özel calls on other nationwide rallies to mobilize support for imamoglu.

The Republican People's Party (CHP) plans to set up Imamoglu as its presidential candidate for the next elections despite the current situation. However, the decision about his candidacy lies with a government -related authority. Around 1.7 million members of the CHP are called for coordination to decide on this crucial question. A CHP party congress is expected on April 6, on which the next steps of the party are to be discussed. In view of the imamoglus arrest, which is considered politically motivated by many, the situation in Turkey could continue to escalate.

protests and resistance to the government

Despite a clear ban for demonstrations, which was imposed by the Istanbul security authorities, the protests continue to find their way on the streets. According to the reports, the protesters, including parliamentary members, gathered, especially at universities and in front of the town hall. The security forces have tightened the access conditions to the city and increased measures against social media, since the authorities are increasingly acting against users who are supposedly incorporating into criminal offenses. Up to 326 online accounts have been identified and investigations were initiated.

Regardless of the repressive measures, the protest took several nights. Tens of thousands demonstrate and face the police, with many rejecting the allegations against Imamoglu as unfounded. Despite the NATO reports on injuries to police officers who were reported during the riots, this has happened. The CHP calls for a termination of repressive measures on the part of the government and sees the arrest a targeted strategy to eliminate a strong political rival.

political context and effects

Imamoglu is considered the potential challenger of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the election scheduled for 2028. In the 2024 local elections, the CHP achieved significant successes against the AKP under its leadership, which the government got. Before his arrest, Imamoglu rejected all allegations against himself as baseless and emphasized that the political pressure on him and his party was a form of oppression. His claims were referred to by the government as false information, which further increases the tensions.

The situation in Turkey remains tense, while the population is pushing for change and refusing to the existing regime. The growing protests and the continuing clashes between the security forces and the citizens could have a decisive impact on the upcoming political developments. The coming days will show how the events develop while the opposition continues to maintain pressure on the government.

The focus of the reporting is on the planned demonstrations and the reactions of the government. The questions about the legal steps and general security in Turkey remain in the foreground in view of the tense situation.