Five days after Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu was arrested by Turkish authorities, tens of thousands continued to take to the streets Monday night in protest of the regime's suppression of the opposition. In Istanbul, violent clashes broke out between demonstrators and police forces, who deployed extensive tear gas, batons, water cannons, and high-pressure hoses.
This wave of protests is already the largest against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's rule since the Gezi Park demonstrations in 2013. Some protesters came armed with umbrellas to protect themselves from tear gas, while others wore gas masks. Police did not hesitate to use water cannons and batons. While some protesters defiantly confronted the police, others threw fireworks and various objects.
Turkish authorities have been attempting to suppress the protest movement since it erupted. On Sunday, state media reported that TV channels were instructed to halt live broadcasts from protest sites. Meanwhile, NetBlocks, a project that monitors internet disruptions, reported restricted access to social media platforms in Turkey.
Video: Protests continue in Istanbul and across the country | Social networks
Social media blockages and censorship
Hundreds of X (formerly Twitter) accounts, including those of social activists and journalists, were blocked in the country. X, a key space for protest organization, announced it would appeal the decision in Turkish court, stating: "We believe this move by the Turkish government is not only unlawful, but also denies millions of Turkish users access to news and political discourse in their own country."
In addition, the governor of Istanbul imposed entry restrictions to the city and banned public gatherings in an effort to quell the growing protest movement. While about 300 people were arrested during Saturday's protests, according to authorities, at least dozens more have since been detained for "incitement" online.
Earlier on Monday, İmamoğlu and other senior officials from the secular Republican People's Party (CHP) were brought to Istanbul District Court, where they were formally charged with corruption. The court ordered İmamoğlu's detention pending trial, and shortly after, the Interior Ministry announced his dismissal from office. The Turkish opposition had feared that he would be indicted on terrorism-related charges, which would allow Erdogan's government to appoint a replacement of its choosing. However, since the municipal council is opposition-controlled, it will now select his successor.
"I'm absolutely terrified right now," said a supporter of İmamoğlu outside the courthouse. "We've already seen the official arrests begin; this is repression." Another protester said, "We may be living through the most important days for our democracy in the past 100 years."
"Dear citizens, Turkey woke up today to a great betrayal," İmamoğlu wrote in a post on X. "The legal process unfolding is not truly legal. This is an execution without trial. I call on our nation to wage a responsible struggle for our rights. This battle for rights is about the future of our country and our children." Erdogan, for his part, has blamed the protests for "undermining social order," stating that "the days when people took to the streets with far-left groups and rioters to challenge the people's will, those days are over."
From political threat to political prisoner
İmamoğlu rose from the back benches of local politics to become Erdogan's most formidable challenger. Less than a year after joining the party, he led its youth wing and later surprised observers by winning a district mayoral race. His biggest upset came in 2019 when he was elected mayor of Istanbul, the most coveted municipal position in Turkey, with more power and budget than some cabinet ministers. His victory, despite obstruction by Erdogan loyalists in the electoral commission, turned him into a rising opposition star and a leading presidential contender (he was polling ahead of Erdogan), until his arrest last week.
A day before his detention, Istanbul University announced it was revoking İmamoğlu's academic degree, a requirement for running in elections in Turkey. Although the next scheduled national election is in 2028, his party held symbolic primaries on Monday, reportedly drawing nearly 15 million participants, according to party leader Özgür Özel. Most voters were not party members but turned out at polling stations nationwide as a sign of protest against Erdogan.
In a message from prison, İmamoğlu thanked the voters. "Tens of millions in this country, suffering from government repression, a ruined economy, incompetence and lawlessness, rushed to the polls," he wrote on X. "They told Erdogan: enough is enough."
Meanwhile, Turkey's economy is reeling from the political upheaval and instability. The Turkish lira, stocks, and bonds plummeted sharply, prompting the central bank to take drastic measures to stabilize the currency. Simultaneously, authorities imposed a ban on short selling on the Istanbul Stock Exchange.
Erdogan's allies deny any political interference in the legal case against the mayor. The Turkish justice minister said it was wrong to label the investigation as "political," adding that the judiciary is independent and impartial. Erdogan himself declared that "the days when politics and justice were dictated by street terror are over" and insisted that "Turkey is governed by the rule of law," telling opposition leaders that "if they have the courage," they should "let the law run its course."
