The arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, a key rival of President Erdoğan, has triggered the largest demonstrations in a decade, resulting in over 1,100 detentions nationwide.

On March 19, the Istanbul mayor, along with 106 other officials and politicians, were detained in a move Human Rights Watch has condemned as politically motivated, intended to suppress legitimate political activities.

Gonul Tol of the Middle East Institute stated that removing İmamoğlu from politics pushes Turkey from competitive authoritarianism towards a full autocracy, akin to Russia, where the president selects opponents and elections are mere formalities.

According to Turkey’s Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, as reported by a spokesperson from the Turkish embassy in Washington, D.C., 1,133 individuals have been detained since the mayor’s arrest, and approximately 123 police officers have been injured. Yerlikaya also claimed that weapons were confiscated during the protests and that those detained have links to terrorist organizations and prior criminal records.

Some experts suggest Erdoğan orchestrated the arrest to marginalize the opposition, silence dissent, and consolidate his power.

Hugh Williamson of Human Rights Watch described the situation as a “dark time for democracy in Turkey,” citing the weaponization of the justice system to undermine the democratic process.

During a Nowruz celebration, Erdoğan asserted that Turkey would not be dictated to by “street terrorism” and would not tolerate disruptions to public order.

Reuters reports Erdoğan saying, “We will not allow public order to be damaged. We will not give in to vandalism or street terrorism.”

The opposition held a symbolic primary vote over the weekend, nominating İmamoğlu as their presidential candidate to challenge Erdoğan in the 2028 elections.

Despite increased repression and threats, the Turkish opposition appears resolute.

İlhan Uzgel, CHP Deputy Chairman for Foreign Policy, stated that the main opposition party, which emerged as the leading party in the March 2024 local elections, will resist government oppression.

Uzgel believes Erdoğan fears losing power and is urging opposition supporters to protest, defend democracy, and challenge the government’s abuse of power.

He added, “We are happy to see that our people take to the streets despite the occasional use of force by the riot police, and demonstrate peacefully, which is a constitutional right.”

İmamoğlu, currently jailed and awaiting trial on corruption charges, was considered Erdoğan’s most significant challenger. His detention is likely to sideline him politically, significantly impacting Turkey’s pro-democracy movement.

Tol of the Middle East Institute suggests Erdoğan hopes public anger will subside, and the protests will eventually fade. With the election not until 2028, he anticipates people will forget and move on.

Tol warns that street protests in the Middle East are unpredictable, and the duration and extent of public anger over the arrests remain uncertain.

İmamoğlu, a member of the secular Republican People’s Party (CHP), was elected mayor of Istanbul in 2019 and re-elected in 2023, defeating Erdoğan-backed candidates in both instances.

These issues in Turkey arise amid reports that President Trump is considering lifting sanctions on the NATO member and resuming F-35 fighter jet sales following a recent conversation with Erdoğan.

Reuters contributed to this article.

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