Protest in Turkey: How a Pokémon became a political issue
A yellow Pokémon as a symbol of resistance? In Turkey, a protester in an inflatable costume of a Pikachu Pokémon has sparked a political debate. In a video shared thousands of times online, a crowd of people can be seen fleeing from police during a protest against the removal of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu - among them the iconic yellow fantasy creature, which was invented in Japan in the mid-1990s. According to reports, the video was made in Antalya in southern Turkey.
29.03.2025, 22:36
29.03.2025, 22:37
SDA
Pro-government media tried to portray the Pikachu costume as part of a targeted campaign by the opposition. On CNN Türk, protesters were accused of using the cute creature as a means of "psychological warfare". The opposition wanted to make the protest appear more sympathetic and bring more people onto the streets. In a lengthy discussion, the channel even broadcast a list of Pikachu's alleged "attributes" - including the ability to attack enemies with electricity and communicate via lightning.
Many protesters have since adopted the Pokémon as a symbol. However, the protesters have also been criticized. Users on the internet, for example, complained that the protest was being played down and portrayed as a fun event, even though there were hundreds of arrests and violence.
Meanwhile, the protests in Turkey continue. Since the arrest and dismissal of Istanbul's mayor, tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets across the country. In Istanbul alone, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets on Sunday. According to the Interior Ministry, almost 2,000 people have been arrested so far and several hundred have been remanded in custody.
