Authoritarianism in Turkey

World News

Erdogan’s Crackdown: Turkey Slides Further into Autocracy

Following Ekrem İmamoğlu’s imprisonment, widespread protests erupted across Turkey, defying government-imposed bans and met with forceful police response. International condemnation, including from France, followed the arrest, which is viewed as a politically motivated attack on democracy. The arrests are seen as a response to the opposition’s recent electoral successes, particularly İmamoğlu’s party’s unexpected wins in the 2024 municipal elections. President Erdoğan characterized the demonstrations as “street terror” and vowed to suppress further opposition.

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John Q. Hosedrinker
The Issues

Erdogan Jails Top Rival, Sparking Massive Protests in Turkey

Ekrem Imamoglu’s imprisonment is undeniably a politically motivated act, clear to opposition voters and likely even some within the AKP. His twice-elected mayoralty of Istanbul, a city with over 16 million voters, speaks volumes about his popularity. The first election, won by Imamoglu, was contested and annulled, only for him to win again by an even larger margin. This second victory further cemented his status as perhaps the most popular opposition politician in recent Turkish history.

The timing of his arrest is highly suspicious, coinciding with the main opposition party CHP’s announcement of a primary process intended to formally designate Imamoglu as their presidential candidate for 2028.… Continue reading

Matt Underwood

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