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| 2025 Turkish protests | |||
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| Part ofThird wave of autocratization, democratic backsliding in Turkey, Southeast Europe protests (2024-present) | |||
 Protestors inSaraçhane, Istanbul, 21 March 2025 | |||
| Date | 19 March 2025 – present | ||
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| Casualties | |||
| Injuries | 150police officers (government claim)[38] | ||
| Arrested | Hundreds of protesters[39][40] | ||
| Detained | ~2,000 protesters[41][needs update] | ||
Widespread protests began throughout Turkey on 19 March 2025 followingthe detention and arrest ofIstanbul mayorEkrem İmamoğlu and more than 100 other opposition members and protesters byTurkish authorities. The gatherings represented significant public opposition to what participants characterized as politically motivated legal actions against İmamoğlu, who was the primary opposition candidate for the2028 Turkish presidential election[42] and incumbentTurkish presidentRecep Tayyip Erdoğan's main political rival. The protests have been characterized as the nation's largest since the so-calledGezi Park protests in 2013.
The demonstrations have been supported by theCHP and many other political parties, organizations, and associations. Hundreds of thousands of people are protesting in almost all of Turkey's cities (especially inIstanbul,Ankara andİzmir), with the biggest crowd being in front of theIstanbul Metropolitan Municipality's headquarters. University students are playing a major role in these protests.[43]
The protesters represent a broad ideological spectrum, including bothright andleft-wing individuals. In this context, symbols of the Republic—particularlyAtatürk—are frequently used as a unifying framework and symbolic point of reference throughout the demonstrations.
The protests are occurring in the context of aneconomic crisis. TheTurkish lira's value to the U.S. dollar fell by 16.3% in the three days following İmamoğlu's arrest.[44]
Ekrem İmamoğlu, a 54-year-old politician from theRepublican People's Party (CHP), had served asMayor of Istanbul since 2019. İmamoğlu had achieved notable electoral victories againstTurkish PresidentRecep Tayyip Erdoğan's allies in both the2019 and2024 municipal elections, during which the CHP secured control of most majorTurkish cities. These victories were widely interpreted as significant challenges to Erdogan's political dominance.[45]
In the months preceding his detention, İmamoğlu had intensified his criticism of theErdogan administration, resulting in multiple legal actions against him. On 19 March 2025, Turkish authoritiesdetained İmamoğlu on allegations that includedcorruption and providing assistance to theKurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), an organization designated asterrorist by Turkey and itsWestern allies.[45][46] About 100 journalists and business figures, including his political advisorMurat Ongun, were also accused of alleged criminal activities connected to municipal contracts. Charges included leading acriminal organization, accepting bribes, and manipulating tender processes.Istanbul University revoked İmamoğlu's academic degree, which would disqualify him from participating in future presidential elections if upheld.[46][47] The reason given was irregularities after transferring from a private university.[48][49]
CHP leaderÖzgür Özel characterized the detention as "acoup against our next president" and urged opposition groups to unify.[46] Within hours of the mayor's detention, a hundred demonstrators assembled nearIstanbul's central police headquarters, where İmamoğlu had been transported. Protesters expressed support for the mayor while chanting anti-government and anti-Erdoğan slogans. Demonstrators characterized the detention as an attack ondemocratic processes and institutions, with some describing it as "a coup against İmamoğlu", emphasizing that İmamoğlu had "beat Erdoğan four times at the ballot box" through legitimate democratic processes. Protesters expressed their belief the detention would strengthen public support for İmamoğlu, with many anticipating the arrest and vowing to continue demonstrations until the decision was reversed. Municipal workers participated in the demonstrations.[45] Tens of thousands of protesters gathered around the municipal offices of Istanbul, with Özel urging them to continue support for İmamoğlu while referring to him as "future president of Turkey".[50] Dilek İmamoğlu, Ekrem İmamoğlu's wife, urged supporters to "raise their voices", stating that: "The day the government decides its opponents is the day democracy dies."[50][51]
TheIstanbul Governor's Office responded by prohibiting public gatherings in the city, deploying security forces to establish barricades around the police facility.Riot police units andwater cannon vehicles were positioned to block roads leading to the headquarters.[45] Despite this, thousands of protesters demonstrated outside city hall, with many shouting slogans such as "Imamoglu, you are not alone!" and "Erdogan, dictator!". Clashes between police and protesters were recorded by witnesses, including an instance of police usingpepper spray on a crowd protesting outside Istanbul University.[51][52] Police barricaded and blocked roads that led to the Vatan Security Department, where İmamoğlu was detained.[53] Banners with Ekrem İmamoğlu's pictures and a quote byMustafa Kemal Atatürk: "Sovereignty unconditionally belongs to the nation," were unfurled in front of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality building.[54]
Hundreds of protesters inAnkara gathered around the headquarters of the CHP to protest along with CHP lawmakers. CHP representatives attempted to impede the legal proceedings in theGrand National Assembly of Turkey, before marching out in protest.[55]Middle East Technical University (METU) students marched on campus demanding the resignation of the government. Afterwards many attempted to move toKızılay, but were stopped by barricades and police on Eskişehir Road, who pepper sprayed them.Mayor of AnkaraMansur Yavaş stated that he would travel to Istanbul to provide support for İmamoğlu and the tens of thousands of protesters.[54] Significant demonstrations were reported inAdana,Trabzon, andİzmir.[56] InDublin, Ireland, the groupDemocratic Türkiye Community in Ireland began demonstrations against İmamoğlu's arrest.[57]
Mass demonstrations broke out in several major Turkish cities. Significant protests were reported inMamak (Ankara),[58] Ankara,[59]Bolu,[60]Şişli (Istanbul),[61] İzmir,[62]Samsun,[63]Manavgat (Antalya),[64]Ayvalık (Balıkesir),[65]Eskişehir,[66]Mersin,[67]Muğla,[68]Bursa,[69]Didim (Aydın),[70]Adana,[71]Denizli,[72]Trabzon,Antalya,Çorum,Konya,Sakarya,Amasya,Giresun,[73]Rize,Kırıkkale, andKarabük.[74] Students and faculty from 13 Turkish universities conducted demonstrations or protest marches, including those ofIstanbul University. Police intervened against the protests of Mersin, Galatasaray, Dokuz Eylül, Ankara, and Kocaeli Universities, with pepper spray, barricades, and force. The nose of a protester was broken after it was kicked by a police officer, while others were detained.[75][76]
The Tandoğan campus ofAnkara University was surrounded with police barricades, with several students being prohibited from entering while the rest required ID access to enter. Resistance from students inside the campus led to several prohibited students being able to enter, and protesters marching on campus against the government. Following the march, the students were prohibited from leaving the campus, with attempts to take down the barricades being met with pepper spray and beatings from police.[77] METU students started a protest march from Dormitory 5, shouting anti-government slogans. Students fromBilkent University andHacettepe University joined the march by taking down police barricades at the METU A1 Gate. Despite the police usingplastic bullets, pepper spray, andtear gas, the march continued.[78]
A mass demonstration took place outside theEmbassy of Turkey in London, with members of the Workers' Party of Turkey and the Turkish Kurdish Community Solidarity Center unravelling banners protesting the restrictive acts of the Turkish government. In Germany, mass demonstrations conducted by theTurkish diaspora were reported in Berlin andStuttgart, calling upon European states to enact greater action against the Turkish government crackdowns.[79]
Interior Minister of TurkeyAli Yerlikaya reported that over 18.6 million social media posts concerning the arrests of opposition figures appeared online by 6 a.m. on 20 March.[80]
Protests intensified in many cities including Istanbul,İzmir andAnkara,[81] while spreading toKonya,Niğde,Trabzon, andAdana.[82][83][5]
The continuation of İmamoğlu's detention further fueled anti-government mobilizations. The protests were driven by opposition parties, labor unions, civil rights groups, and other citizens, expressing their dissatisfaction with what they consideredauthoritarian actions byRecep Tayyip Erdoğan's government. These protests had been building, but 22 March marked their peak, with demonstrators demanding İmamoğlu's release and calling for an end to government measures they deemed undemocratic.[84]
Istanbul became the epicenter of large-scaleprotests, with gatherings erupting in districts such asSaraçhane,Beşiktaş,Kadıköy, andŞişli. However,Taksim Square, a historically significant site, was blockaded by heavy police presence, preventing demonstrations there. Despite this, protesters in other areas carried banners and chanted slogans like "Susma, sustukça, sıra sana gelecek!" ("Don't stay quiet, the longer you do, it will be your turn!"), "Hükümet istifa!" ("Government, resign!"), and "Hak, hukuk, adalet!" ("Right, law, justice!"), while others participated bybanging pots and pans from their balconies, reminiscent of the2013 Gezi Park protests Riot police, reinforced by armored vehicles andTOMA water cannon trucks, took up defensive positions in the city.[85]
Despite the largely peaceful nature of the protests, tensions escalated when security forces attempted to disperse the crowds, citing concerns over illegal gatherings andpublic disorder. The police response was forceful, deploying tear gas, rubber bullets, and water cannons against protesters who refused to leave. Violent clashes broke out inBozdoğan Kemeri, where thousands had gathered in defiance of government warnings.[86] Many responded by throwing plastic bottles, chanting slogans, and waving opposition party flags, particularly those of the CHP.[87] Inİzmir, videos circulated of police beating up protestors and detaining them while they shouted for help.[88]
Elsewhere in the country, demonstrations took place inAnkara, where crowds and CHP representatives attempted to march to theGrand National Assembly of Turkey to demand justice.[89] Police barricaded major roads, preventing demonstrators from reaching the parliament building, which had been heavily fortified with additional riot units. In İzmir, thousands floodedLozan Square to begin a march toAlsancak, disregarding the five-day demonstration ban set in place by theGovernor of İzmir, waving Turkish flags and chanting pro-democracy slogans.[90]
As the protests intensified, theTurkish Interior Ministry announced that 343 individuals had been detained during overnight clashes. The ministry claimed security forces acted in accordance with public order laws, arguing some demonstrators engaged in "provocative and violent behavior". However, opposition leaders and human rights organizations accused the government ofexcessive force, noting many arrested were peaceful protesters exercising their constitutional right to free assembly.[91] Forty-one protesters were detained in Ankara'sGüvenpark and in an "anti-terror" operation, while 31 others had arrest warrants issued. Of 22 student protesters detained, seven female students were forciblystrip-searched.[92]
TheIstanbul Governor's Office announced that entering and leaving Istanbul was restricted, saying that "Individuals, groups and vehicles from the districts of our province or neighboring provinces, who are likely to join illegal actions individually or collectively by using the route of our province, will not be allowed to enter or leave our province".[93]
Large crowds gathered in central areas such as Kadıköy, chanting slogans like "Justice for all" and "This is not about a mayor; it's about democracy." Protesters described the situation as an attack on electoral legitimacy and democratic governance.[94][95]Turkish police responded withtear gas andriot control tactics. Several protesters were reportedly injured during the crackdown, and some were detained.[94]
RTÜK's president Ebubekir Şahin, warned some TV channels on X that there could be penalties applicable up to broadcast suspension and license revocation,if they kept engaging in activities such as broadcasting against the law and calling the people to the streets.[96] This resulted in some channels ,such asSözcü TV [tr] andHalk TV cutting their live broadcasts of rallies and protests at the Metropolitan Municipality building.[97] As a result, several millions tuned into livestreams of the protests broadcast from İmamoğlu'ssocial media accounts and the CHP. The broadcast resulted in a record number of simultaneous viewers of the livestream, at 4 million.[98] After calls on social media to boycott brands associated with the AKP, as well as smaller businesses that refused to help protesters or sell to them,Özgür Özel threatened a boycott on media companies if they did not cover the protests.[99]
At 12:20 p.m. İmamoğlu was formally arrested following acourt order.[100] The Istanbul Criminal Court mandated his detention pending trial on charges of corruption and alleged connections to theKurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a group designated as terrorist by Turkey.[101] The terrorism charges were dropped as the court focused on corruption.[49] Despite misinformation,[102] this move means that a trustee cannot be appointed to Istanbul.[49] İmamoğlu denied the allegations, labeling them as baseless and politically motivated.[103] His legal team announced plans to appeal the court's decision, asserting that the charges are intended to suppress political dissent.[104] At 10:49 p.m. local time, after most of the votes from theprimary election were counted, the CHP declared on X that their presidential candidate for theupcoming elections is Ekrem İmamoğlu.[105]
A protest was held inValletta by Turkish residents inMalta.[106]
Interior MinisterAli Yerlikaya claimed that[107][108] some of the arrested protesters were identified as having ties withterrorist organizations, and others had criminal records.[109] Yerlikaya announced that 123police officers were injured during the protests, withfireworks. He wrote, "Terrorizing our streets and threatening the peace and security of our nation will absolutely not be tolerated".[110] X issued a statement saying that it had received court orders ordering it to block over 700 accounts posting anti-government content, including those belonging to politicians and journalists, but that it was objecting to the orders.[109]
President Erdoğan said that the CHP should be held responsible for the damage caused to property and the violence committed against police officers. He also said that the protesters had turned into a "movement of violence".[111] The Turkish opposition called for aboycott of companies owned by holdings close to the government and TV channels that censored images of the mobilizations.[112][113][114]
Videos surfaced on social media was claimed that protesters climbing on top of theŞehzade Mosque and drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes, others were seen urinating on the walls of the mosque and littering the courtyard.[115][116][unreliable source?][117][118] Vandals had desecrated the graveyard by breaking tombstones.[119][unreliable source?]
A judge ordered the pre-trial detention of seven journalists, includingAgence France-Presse photographer Yasin Akgül, accused by the authorities of taking part in an illegal rally.[120][121] They were charged with "refusing to disperse despite warning during a demonstration".[122][123][124] Agence France Presse called for the photographer's release.[123] The court's decision was called "scandalous" byReporters Without Borders, while Turkish Photojournalists Union called it "unlawful, unconscionable and unacceptable".[125]
Protesters said they will continue protesting against the government despite arrests.[122] Yerlikaya said in a post onX: "No concessions will be made to those who attempt to terrorise the streets, to attack our national and moral values, and our police officers".[125]
The local governorate extended the ban on gatherings inAnkara until 1 April.[126]
CHP leaderÖzgür Özel held a meeting with Ekrem İmamoğlu atMarmara Prison. He described İmamoğlu and two other jailed politicians as "three lions inside, standing tall, with their heads held high ... proud of themselves, their families, their colleagues, not afraid". Afterwards Özel said he was planning to appoint anacting mayor in İmamoğlu's place.[127] Istanbul's municipal council later electedNuri Aslan, a CHP member who won 177 votes in the 314-member council.[128][129]
President Erdoğan continued speaking against the protests and labelled them as "street terror". He said: "Those who spread terror in the streets and want to set fire to this country have nowhere to go. The path they have taken is a dead end".[130] He also accused the opposition of harming the economy.[131][132][133]
The BBC said its correspondent,Mark Lowen, had been expelled from Turkey after being detained while covering the protests.[134] A court released Yasin Akgül and six other journalists who had been detained while covering the protests.[135] The RTUK imposed a 10-day broadcasting ban onSözcü TV, accusing it of incitement in its coverage.[136][137]
Swedish journalistJoakim Medin was detained on arrival in Turkey, where he was due to cover the protests. On 28 March, the editor-in-chief of his newspaper (Dagens ETC [sv]),[138] reported Medin had been taken into custody.[139] He has been jailed pending trial on charges of "insulting the president" and "membership in a terrorist organization", according to Ankara's Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. His arrest is linked to a 2023 protest inStockholm, where a mannequin resembling Erdogan was hung outside city hall.[140][141] Press freedom organizations condemned the arrest. Reporters Without Borders Sweden called it "indefensible," while Amnesty Sweden warned it was a threat to freedom of expression. The Swedish Newspaper Publishers' Association urged theSwedish government to act "sharply and swiftly" for Medin's release, calling Turkey's media restrictions alarming.[138]
1,879 people were detained and 260 people were arrested since the beginning of the protests.[137][142]
İmamoğlu's lawyer,Mehmet Pehlivan, was detained.[143]Halk TV claimed his detainment was linked with allegations of "laundering assets originating from a crime".[144][145] He was released from detention under judicial supervision.[146] İmamoğlu tweeted: "As if the coup on democracy wasn't enough, they can't stand the victims of this coup defending themselves".[147]
Two more journalists covering the protests, Elif Bayburt, who works for theEtkin News Agency, and Nisa Suda Demirel, from theEvrensel news website, were detained, according to theJournalists union of Turkey.[148][149][150] The CHP's boycott website; 'boykotyap.com' was blocked by the Ankara 4th Criminal Judgeship of Peace.[151]
A mass rally was organized by CHP inMaltepe, Istanbul. Ozgur Özel claimed 2.2 million people joined, newspapers put the figure in the hundreds of thousands.[152][153] A letter from İmamoğlu was read out at the rally:[154][155]
I have no fear, you are behind me and by my side. I have no fear because the nation is united. The nation is united against the oppressor. They can put me in jail and try me as much as they want, the nation has shown that it will crush all traps and plots.
On the same day, in an interview with France'sLe Monde, Özel said he planned to make Saturday rallies a weekly feature in cities across Turkey, with others to be held in Istanbul every Wednesday.[156]
A protester wearing aPikachu costume was chased by police in Antalya,[157] leading to thePokémon mascot becoming a symbol of anti-Erdogan protests.[158] Since then, Pikachu posters and costumes have appeared at protests.[159] President Erdogan called the protests a "show" and warned CHP to stop "provoking" the Turks.[160]
Özgür Özel urged people toboycott companies with ties to president Erdoğan.[161]
Leader of theNationalist Movement Party (MHP) and Erdoğan allyDevlet Bahçeli said that the protests could provoke clashes with government loyalists. He also accused the CHP of "using unrest to destabilize the government".[162] The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation into those who made a "boycott call" on social media for incitement to hatred and hostility.[163]
Eleven people were detained for supporting the economic boycott, including actorCem Yiğit Üzümoğlu.[164]
Özgür Özel called for anticipated national elections to be held by November at the latest. Speaking at an extraordinary party congress in Ankara, Özel challenged Erdoğan to face the electorate, declaring the protests a powerful act of public dissent.[165][166]
TheParliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) approved the bill calling for the release of Ekrem İmamoğlu and other mayors with 90 votes in favor and eight against.[167][168]
On 11 April, Imamoglu appeared in court for the first time since his arrest, not for the corruption case, but in connection with three other legal proceedings: one for allegedly threatening remarks made in January against Istanbul's chief prosecutor, Akin Gürlek, and two others concerning suspected irregularities in public procurement and donations during the municipal election campaign. The hearing, normally held at the Caglayan Courthouse, took place instead within the Silivri prison complex, which is closed to the public. The CHP accused the government of weaponizing the judiciary to prevent him from running in the 2028 presidential election. Meanwhile, police conducted aggressive raids on the homes of Imamoglu's relatives, including that of his father, further heightening tensions. Shortly before the hearing, two investigative journalists, Murat Agirel and Timur Soykan, who had reported on alleged irregularities in the investigations targeting Imamoglu, were also arrested, while 107 students detained during the protests were released.[169][170]
After some teachers in the well-established high schools in Istanbul were suspended for participating in the protests or opposing the government, protests were held in some high schools.[171][172]
The trial of nearly 200 people arrested in the protests began. Most of the 189 defendants in the trial, which was held at the Caglayan courthouse, were students, while eight were journalists.[173]
Joakim Medin was convicted by a court in Ankara on charges of insulting President Erdoğan and sentenced to a suspended 11-month prison term.[174]
Since the protests coincided with May 1 Labor Day, all groups participating in the protest celebrated Labor Day. 407 people were detained during the May 1st celebrations.
Esila Ayık, who had beenarrested and kept in prison for over a month even despite several doctor reports about her being unsuitable for prison conditions, was released, along with two other students.[175]
Joakim Medin was released and returned to Sweden following lobbying by the Swedish and other European foreign ministries.[176]
While the continued, 23 thousand municipal workers working in Izmir went on strike because they found the wages given by the municipality inadequate. All municipal operations were disrupted for days.[citation needed]
A commemoration was held in Beyoğlu on the 12th anniversary of theGezi Park protests, Turkey's largest civil disobedience action. Representatives of political parties, unions, civil society organizations and citizens gathered on Mis Sokak upon the call of Taksim Solidarity.[citation needed]
Ahead of the Pride March to be held in Istanbul, Taksim Metro was closed until further notice by the decision of the Istanbul Governor's Office. The Şişli District Governor's Office imposed a one-day ban on protests within the district borders. Despite the restrictions, more than 50 people were detained during the march held in Kadıköy.
Özgur Özel, a day before the court trial in relation to the decision on whether to replace him by a state-appointed person (possibly Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu) due to an alleged fraud of his election as the head of CHP, delivers an opening speech at Germany's SPD Party's congress, in Berlin. In his speech, he made detailed mentions to the democratic backsliding in Turkey, and at the end of his speech, he received a full crowd support in applauds, together with "Free İmamoğlu" posters being held by SPD members. After his speech, Özgur Özel made an interview with ANKA news agency, outside in Berlin, and noted that he will tell the world, and the world society about how Erdoğan is causing injustice.
A rally was held in Saraçhane for the 100th day of Ekrem İmamoğlu's arrest. Approximately 100 thousand people joined the rally. Some protestors clashed with riot police after the rally, police encircled and used pepper spray on the protestors, one person was stabbed. Similar protests were held in İzmir, Ankara and Gaziantep.
İmamoğlu, previously anticipated to run for president in 2028, was nominated by the CHP as its presidential candidate on March 23, despite his imprisonment and the annulment of his university degree, which would technically disqualify him from the race.[177] The protests are perceived as a response to the perceived injustice of incarcerating a democratically elected mayor who has been characterized as a "man of the people," reflecting broader concerns about democratic backsliding in Turkey.[177]
Despite his detention, İmamoğlu managed to post asocial media statement in defiance, stating that he would "not give up" and would "continue standing up against the pressure" as a significant opposition figure against the current Turkish administration.[45]
Some politicians from thePeoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM) and Kurdish voters worry that the arrest could stymie the chances of the effort to end theKurdish-Turkish conflict. DEM deputy leaderEbru Günay said "What happened in Istanbul showed once again that this country needs a real democracy".[178] However, recent talks between thePKK and the government suggest that DEM has been hesitant to fully back the opposition. While Imamoglu's supporters gathered in protest near Istanbul, many Kurdish and DEM members instead participated in theirNowruz celebrations in the city, not confronting with the government.[179]
Following Imamoglu's detention and during subsequent protests, theIstanbul Governor's Office prohibited all public gatherings and demonstrations throughout the city for a four-day period. The office also closed major roads and rail networks located in central Istanbul.[47] Access to various social media platforms includingX,YouTube,Instagram, andTikTok was restricted, according to reports from internet monitoring organizations.[46][47]
TheTurkish government denied allegations from protesters and opposition parties, maintaining that the judiciary operated independently from political influence. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated that "courts held those accountable who committed treason against the national will and will do so in the future", adding that the judiciary would also act against those attempting to sabotage the Turkish economy and the well-being of the nation.[177] When specifically questioned about claims that the detention was politically motivated, representatives from President Erdogan's office did not provide immediate comments.[46] Days later, Erdogan spoke in favor of judicial independence and said the protests were a "disruption of public order".[49]
Subway lines and bus transportation were shut down in Ankara'sMiddle East Technical University Station during student protests.[180]
Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç defended the judiciary against accusations of political interference, stating that the decision to arrest İmamoğlu was not influenced by President Erdoğan and reaffirming the independence of the courts.[177]
The Republican People's Party (CHP) criticized the charges against İmamoğlu as politically motivated, stating that the government aims to prevent him from running in the upcoming presidential elections.[177]
CHP leader Özgür Özel not only encouraged nationwide protests but also called for boycotts of products and services linked to companies perceived to be close to the ruling AK Party, a move President Erdoğan denounced as economic sabotage.[177]
On 2 April, Özel supported grassroots calls for a one-day shopping boycott. In a social media post, he wrote, "We all saw what state the junta alliance against us fell into in panic. Those who could not go out for years had to go out in a hurry and see the state of the poor nation."[177]
Speaking to protestors in Istanbul, Özel stated, "They've detained hundreds of our children, thousands of our youths. They only had one goal in mind: to intimidate them ... make sure they never go out again."[177]
Dilek İmamoğlu, the mayor's wife, stated in a podcast that her husband's arrest was due to his repeated electoral success, claiming, "The real reason Ekrem İmamoğlu is in custody ... [is] because he's already managed to thrash his opponents at the ballot box four different times."[177]
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The detention of İmamoğlu and the ensuing protests attracted international attention, with various governments and human rights organizations expressing concern aboutdemocratic backsliding in Turkey.[45]Amnesty International's Deputy Regional Director for Europe Dinushika Dissanayake described the Turkish government actions as "draconian" and an escalated "crackdown on peaceful dissent" to limitfreedom of assembly andspeech.[47]
President of the European CommissionUrsula von der Leyen said that Turkey would need to maintain its democratic values to avoid potentially losing its European Unioncandidate country status, stating that the EU wished to stay closely tied to Turkey.[53] A joint statement released by the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security PolicyKaja Kallas and Commissioner for Neighbourhood and EnlargementMarta Kos remarked that the European Union held Turkey to a higher standard in implementing democratic values due to its candidate status andCouncil of Europe membership.[181]
Despite public statements of concern, EU officials acknowledged that Ankara's strategic importance in areas such as migration, energy, and defense makes a strong diplomatic or financial backlash unlikely.[182] EU accession funds and other financial mechanisms continue to benefit Turkey. The country has received around €9 billion to host refugees and remains eligible for billions more under defense-related programs like "Readiness 2030", allowing access to joint procurements worth up to €800 billion.[182]
Two anonymous EU officials admitted recent developments in Turkey "go against the very logic of EU accession," referencing the detention of over 1,000 people including journalists since the protests began. However, no concrete action has been taken due to Turkey's critical geopolitical role.[182]
Greece and Cyprus have reportedly pushed for restrictions on Turkey's access to EU defense funds following İmamoğlu's arrest, amid broader concerns over rule of law and ongoing regional tensions.[183]
Political analyst Dimitar Bechev commented that "whatever Erdoğan does, the EU will have to tag along with it", suggesting that the EU tolerates democratic backsliding so long as Turkey remains strategically cooperative.[182]
In response to the widespread protests following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, the Turkish government intensified its control over social media platforms.[184] Interior Minister of TurkeyAli Yerlikaya announced on the morning of 20 March that law enforcement had identified 261 "suspect account managers" who allegedly shared content "inciting the public to hatred and hostility" and "incitement to commit a crime." Authorities detained thirty-seven individuals in connection with these allegations, with efforts continuing to apprehend additional suspects.[80]
Despite the platform's refusal statements,[185][186][187][188]X (formerly Twitter), owned byElon Musk, complied with government orders to suspend approximately 700 accounts, including those of journalists, activists, and opposition figures. The majority of which were "university-associated activist accounts, basically sharing protest information, locations for students to go," according to Yusuf Can, coordinator and analyst at the Wilson Center's Middle East Program, who also noted that many of them are "grassroots activists" with their followings in the low tens of thousands.[189][190] This action drew significant criticism from free speech advocates, who accused Musk of a double standard, given his self-proclaimed stance as a "free speech absolutist."[184]
Companies such as Twitter[191][192] andMeta[193] censored social media posts related to the protests at the government's request.
Nearly 2,000 people[194] have been arrested since the protests began, including several journalists.[195][133]
FollowingEkrem İmamoğlu's arrest, theTurkish lira dropped by 12.7%, reaching a record low of 42 lira perUS dollar.[196][197][198] While the lira has since settled around 38 to the dollar, foreign investors remain cautious. In response to the turmoil, approximately $16 billion was pulled from Turkish markets, significantly impacting the country's foreign reserves, which had previously been rebuilt to $65 billion.[199] Meanwhile, theBIST 100 index of theIstanbul Stock Exchange plunged by 8.72%, falling from 10,802 to 9,860 points.[200][201][202] In response, theTurkish Central Bank sold $25 billion in foreign currency in an attempt to stabilize the national currency.[203][204][205] This massive intervention also led to an increase ininterest rates and an upward revision ofinflation forecasts, with an estimated 29.75% by the end of the year.[206] These events have shaken foreign investors' confidence, undermining Economy MinisterMehmet Şimşek's efforts to restore the country'seconomic stability.[207][208][209]
The protest also caused the cancellation or postponement of some scheduled concerts in Istanbul. English rock bandMuse postponed its scheduled gig in Istanbul to 2026 due to pressure from the anti-government protesters not to perform, after the concert promoter, Abdulkadir Ozkan, made controversial remarks regarding the protests.Norwegian singerAne Brun also cancelled her scheduled gig in Istanbul.[210]
2025 protests
Media related to2025 Turkish anti-government protests at Wikimedia Commons
