In a significant escalation of tensions in Turkey, authorities have detained dozens of individuals for allegedly making “provocative” social media posts following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on Wednesday. Imamoglu, a prominent figure in the secular Republican People’s Party (CHP) and a serious contender for the 2028 presidential elections, was among 106 people taken into custody on charges related to corruption and alleged ties to terrorist organizations. His arrest has ignited widespread protests across Istanbul and the capital, Ankara.
Protests erupt amidst growing unrest
Imamoglu’s detention has been condemned by critics as a political maneuver, termed a “coup” by his supporters, who are planning further demonstrations despite a ban on protests issued by Istanbul’s pro-Erdogan governor that is set to last four days. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya disclosed on Thursday that law enforcement officials have pinpointed 261 individuals believed to be responsible for social media content that incites hatred and violence, resulting in the arrest of 37 suspects thus far. As of Thursday morning, over 18.6 million posts had circulated online regarding the mayor’s arrest.
Calls for unity and resistance
“These events have gone beyond our parties, political ideals. The process is now concerning our people, namely your families,” Imamoglu stated in a message posted on his X account shortly after his arrest.
Despite his detention, the municipal government of Istanbul remains under the control of the opposition party. Commuters in the city were met with recorded messages of Imamoglu’s speeches resonating through metro stations, where he promised to continue fighting for justice. Meanwhile, university students took to the streets, chanting, “We are not scared, we won’t be silenced, we will not obey,” a powerful slogan among Turkey’s opposition.
Although the turnout for the protests has been relatively modest in a city boasting a population of over 16 million, organizers maintain that the movement will persist. Imamoglu’s office has urged supporters to gather outside the municipal hall for a second consecutive night of demonstrations.
In response to these developments, CHP leader Ozgur Ozel rallied supporters on Wednesday night, urging them to “fill the streets” in solidarity. However, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan dismissed these internal party issues as irrelevant to the broader public, stating that citizens do not have time to engage with what he described as the opposition’s “theatrics.” The recent crackdown on dissent follows a troubling trend of increased repression against opposition figures, journalists, and cultural icons in Turkey.
The justice ministry has refuted claims linking Erdogan to the arrests, asserting the independence of the judiciary amidst ongoing fears of further detentions in an apparent campaign of intimidation. Imamoglu, who successfully won a second term as mayor last year when the CHP made significant electoral gains in both Istanbul and Ankara, represents a growing challenge to Erdogan’s long-standing grip on power.
As Erdogan approaches the end of his current term, with constitutional limits preventing him from running again in 2028 without amendments, the upcoming CHP presidential candidate selection—set for Sunday, where Imamoglu is the sole candidate—will be closely watched. The party is also facilitating a symbolic election procedure across Turkey to gauge public support for the detained mayor.