Reuters confirmed that a Turkish court has decided to imprison the mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, while the Turkish Ministry of Interior announced the arrest of 343 people during protests denouncing the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Akram Imamoglu. Last Wednesday, the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Istanbul issued an arrest warrant for Istanbul Mayor Akram Imamoglu and 99 others on charges related to corruption and terrorism. The detained Istanbul mayor, on platform “X,” last Thursday, called on members of the ruling party and the judiciary to “oppose injustice,” writing: “You cannot, and you must not, remain silent… These events have transcended our parties and political ideals. It is now about our nation, especially your families. It is time to raise your voices.”
The arrest of Istanbul Mayor Akram Imamoglu has caused a political uproar, fueling protests that have spread from Istanbul to Ankara and Izmir, and subsequently to many Turkish provinces in the north, south, east, and west. The protests, which began in Saraçhane, the square in the heart of historic Istanbul where the municipality building and Istanbul University are located, have spread to various cities, universities, and streets. Many participants in the protests, coming from multiple generations with a notable presence of youth who were born and grew up under the rule of the Justice and Development Party, emphasized that justice has become the primary demand.
Many, from students to workers, tried to convey their messages about the economic situation, the deteriorating standard of living, the lack of student services, and the affordable restaurants that Imamoglu successfully provided for them, taking on a social role traditionally associated with Islamists. Media outlets noted that these messages have taken the protests beyond the traditional narrative in Turkey of the conflict between secularists and Islamists, as those who appeared in the protests came from diverse backgrounds, including groups previously known for supporting the ruling Justice and Development Party. They were keen to show their presence and determination to move forward until the departure of Erdogan and his government.
Politicians and analysts suggested that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s move against Imamoglu, one of his main competitors for the presidency, could be the biggest mistake Erdogan has made in his nearly quarter-century rule. They argued that his strong regime might not withstand the wave of anger sparked by the arrest of the Istanbul mayor and that he might have “orchestrated a coup against himself.” Some believe that Erdogan might be paving the way for Imamoglu to ascend to the presidency by repeating the “victimhood” model that Erdogan himself used to rise to power after his arrest during his tenure as Istanbul mayor in the 1990s, due to some verses of poetry considered contrary to the principles of the secular republic. Media also reported warnings from prominent figures with a history in such conflicts, who were among the founders of the Justice and Development Party and bore the burden of its nascent experience, which faced campaigns similar to what Imamoglu is experiencing today.
Former President Abdullah Gül, one of the founders of the Justice and Development Party, who faced angry protests from secularists and the military elite during his presidential candidacy in 2007, reminded Erdogan and his government of the troubles the party faced in the past. Gül said in a statement relayed by “Karar” newspaper writer Mehmet Uçaktan: “Let us remember how the public conscience did not accept the injustice done to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and myself. Similar mistakes should not be made against Akram Imamoglu, who was elected mayor by the will of the people. We must not lose the rule of law and justice, or Turkey will lose.” Former Education Minister and one of the founders of the Justice and Development Party, Hüseyin Çelik, pointed out that “we should not forget that the Justice and Development Party came to power through similar paths.” He said, “Revoking the university degree of Istanbul Mayor Akram Imamoglu and detaining him along with many of his colleagues were not right, and depriving the people of the right to protest has opened wounds that will not heal in our already fragile democracy and rule of law. Taking exceptional measures and decisions without declaring a state of emergency is, in fact, the application of martial law,” adding, “You cannot tamper with the will of the people.”
Meanwhile, a report by the British newspaper “The Telegraph” stated that human traffickers based in Turkey are preparing for a “significant increase in clients,” due to what it described as “increasing political unrest pushing people to flee the country to Europe and the United Kingdom.” “The Telegraph” quoted a prominent smuggler, described as a “Turkish citizen heading a vast network extending from the Middle East and South Asia to the United Kingdom,” saying that they are currently waiting for Turks who want to cross to Europe. He said, “These protests concern the rights of the Turkish people.” The smuggler added, “This will lead to an increase in the number of asylum seekers from Turkey to Europe.”
According to the report, the number of Turkish citizens arriving in the United Kingdom since 2022, who came on small boats, has risen, with the average number of arrivals now exceeding 2,000 people annually, while only a few arrived in the years before that, according to “The Telegraph’s” analysis of British government data. The number of Turkish arrivals to Britain on small boats peaked in 2023, with 3,058 people, making them the third-largest nationality, while last year, Turks were the eighth-largest group of migrants.
In recent years, the United States and Europe have followed a balanced approach in their relations with Turkey, as the West needs Ankara’s help in controlling borders, managing illegal migration flows, and detaining and deporting migrants. Political unrest could significantly shake Turkey in the future, leading to an influx of asylum seekers to Europe, according to the British newspaper. Turkey, a NATO member, is a key partner in dealing with the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, having been implicitly and explicitly linked to both sides. The report indicates that Turkey, at one point, was a major hub for the transit of Russian oil and energy products despite sanctions, as well as a supplier of armed drones to Ukraine.
