The arrest of a major opposition figure in Turkey has provoked major protests over President Erdogan’s increasing authoritarianism, reports Durul Gur

On March 19, 2025, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu was arrested on corruption charges, which he has strongly denied as politically motivated. As a key opposition figure and rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, his detention has ignited Turkey’s largest protests in over a decade, spreading to 55 provinces, including Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir. The protests have been met with a heavy police crackdown, including the use of tear gas, rubber bullets, and water cannons. Over 1,100 protesters have been arrested, with reports of significant injuries among both demonstrators and police officers.

In response to İmamoğlu’s arrest, Özgür Özel, chair of the main opposition party, the Republican People’s party (CHP), has refused to leave Saraçhane, the Istanbul municipality building, stating that Erdoğan’s goal is to appoint a kayyım to the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. He has declared, ‘We are resisting fascism. We are boycotting.’

After six days of resistance, Özel and his supporters have successfully prevented the government from appointing a state trustee (kayyım) to replace İmamoğlu. Tomorrow, the CHP plans to appoint a municipal council member as acting mayor. The kayyım system, which allows the state to replace elected officials with government-appointed trustees, has been widely criticised as an undemocratic measure, often used against opposition-led municipalities.

Today, Özel has vowed to maintain pressure until İmamoğlu’s case is handled transparently. He has demanded that the trial be broadcast live so that the public can witness the judicial process firsthand. He also directly challenged pro-government media, particularly TRT, to air the hearings impartially.

Özel warned that if the Istanbul Governorship and police unlawfully intervene against the youth and use excessive force, such as tear gas and rubber bullets, he would call millions into the streets. He specifically referenced Taksim Square, a politically and historically significant location in Turkey that has been off-limits to protests for years. Taksim has long been a centre of political resistance and labour-rights movements, most notably linked to the 1977 May Day Massacre, when unknown gunmen opened fire on a labour rally, killing dozens. Özel concluded with a firm declaration: ‘We will reclaim Taksim’.

As mass arrests continue, prisons across Turkey have reportedly reached capacity. Students, politicians, mayors, journalists, and activists are among those detained, raising concerns over the treatment of political prisoners and the broader crackdown on dissent.