Thousands Protest Arrest of Erdogan's Main Political Rival in Turkey

Massive protests erupted across Turkey on Thursday, March 20, 2025, following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a prominent opposition figure and potential presidential candidate.

Photo credit: Dailynews.co.tz

The detention of Imamoglu, widely seen as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's most formidable rival, has sparked outrage and concerns over the state of democracy in Turkey.

Imamoglu, a member of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), was arrested on Wednesday morning in a large-scale raid. He faces allegations of corruption and supporting terrorism, charges that his supporters claim are politically motivated.

Despite a four-day ban on public gatherings imposed by the Istanbul Governor, thousands of protesters gathered in Istanbul and Ankara, calling for President Erdogan's resignation and accusing him of attempting to eliminate his biggest political threat.

The CHP, Turkey's most important opposition force, has described the arrest as an "attempted coup against the next potential president".

The timing of Imamoglu's arrest is particularly significant, as it comes just days before the CHP was expected to nominate him as their candidate for the 2028 presidential election. This move has been interpreted by many as a deliberate attempt to derail his candidacy and suppress political opposition.

International reactions to Imamoglu's arrest have been swift and critical. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the detention "extremely worrying" and emphasized that Turkey, as a member of the Council of Europe and EU accession candidate, must respect democratic values and the rights of elected officials.

The Turkish government has responded to the protests by restricting access to social media platforms and public transportation in Istanbul. Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc warned against demonstrations, labeling it "presumptuous" to link the investigations to President Erdogan.

Hürcan Aslı Aksoy, an expert on Turkish politics, described the situation as "a step towards full authoritarianism" and "a kind of civil coup". The arrest of Imamoglu is seen as part of a broader crackdown on opposition figures and civil society in Turkey, with legal proceedings against government critics intensifying in recent months.

As tensions continue to escalate, the international community watches closely, with many expressing concern over the future of democracy in Turkey and the potential impact on its relationships with European allies.