Mass Protests in Istanbul Over Arrest of Mayor İmamoğlu
ISTANBUL, Turkey - 21 March 2025
Tens of thousands of demonstrators filled the streets of Istanbul on Thursday following the arrest of the city's mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, in what many are calling one of the largest anti-government protests in Turkey in recent years.
Estimates by opposition figures suggest as many as 300,000 people took part in the protest in central Istanbul, which was met with a heavy police response. Riot units deployed tear gas, water cannons, rubber bullets, and pepper spray in efforts to disperse the crowd. Protests also erupted in Ankara and İzmir, with similar clashes reported.
İmamoğlu, a leading member of the opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) and widely considered a potential challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, was detained earlier this week on charges of corruption and alleged links to terrorism. He has denied all allegations.
The arrest has been widely condemned by opposition leaders and civil rights groups, who accuse the Erdoğan government of weaponising the judiciary to sideline political rivals ahead of the 2028 presidential elections. CHP leader Özgür Özel, who addressed the crowds in Istanbul, described the charges as "transparent political sabotage" and a "serious attack on democracy."
President Erdoğan, responding to the unrest, condemned the demonstrations as "illegal provocations" and stated that Turkey "will not surrender to street terrorism." His government has pledged a firm response to further protests.
İmamoğlu, who was previously sentenced to a suspended prison term in 2022 for allegedly "insulting public officials," had remained a key figure in Turkish politics and a symbol of opposition resilience. His initial 2019 electoral victory in Istanbul marked a significant political upset for Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), breaking the party’s 25-year hold over the city.
International reaction to İmamoğlu’s arrest has so far been restrained, with Western governments monitoring developments but offering limited public condemnation. Analysts suggest Turkey’s strategic role in NATO and its geopolitical positioning—especially regarding Ukraine and Middle Eastern security—has contributed to the muted global response.
As of Friday morning, İmamoğlu remained in custody pending further investigation. The CHP has called for continued demonstrations, despite the risks. Rights organisations have warned that mass arrests and further violence could follow if tensions continue to escalate.
Image: Mocmuk/Wikimedia Commons
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