Europe Showdown between the Turkish government and demonstrators
The protests in Turkey against the imprisonment of popular opposition politician Ekrem Imamoglu continue unabated. On Tuesday, thousands of people took to the streets again for the seventh evening in a row, including in Istanbul and Ankara - although demonstrations are currently banned in both cities.
26.03.2025, 06:57
26.03.2025, 09:01
SDA
The US government expressed concern at the latest developments. The chairman of the largest political group in the European Parliament, Manfred Weber (CSU), believes that the foundations for cooperation with the Turkish government are in danger.
Imamoglu is considered Erdogan's most promising potential challenger in the presidential election scheduled for 2028 and was put forward as a candidate by the largest opposition party. He was arrested last Wednesday on charges of corruption and terrorism and was removed as mayor of the metropolis of Istanbul on Sunday. Imamoglu himself denies all allegations and accuses the government of wanting to use the investigations to politically immobilize him.
According to the Turkish Ministry of the Interior, more than 1,400 people have been arrested during demonstrations since the protests began and almost 1,000 of them are still in custody. Several journalists are among those arrested. The largely peaceful protest is increasingly directed against the government of head of state Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who described the mostly peaceful demonstrations as a "violent movement".
Police accused of brutal action
The police, on the other hand, are accused of brutal action against demonstrators. Videos and images show security forces using batons, irritant gas and water cannons against people on the street. According to the Ministry of the Interior, several police officers were injured during the demonstrations. There is no reliable information on the number of injured participants in the protests.
People take to the streets despite a ban
On Tuesday evening, hundreds of people also demonstrated in the city of Rize, Erdogan's hometown, according to the opposition-affiliated broadcaster Halk TV. In Istanbul, a large protest march of mainly young demonstrators marched through the district of Sisli, as eyewitnesses and local media reported. Hundreds also gathered in front of the Istanbul city administration and in the capital Ankara as well as in Izmir, as was seen on television images.
In Ankara and Izmir, the protest bans were extended again - in Izmir until Saturday, in Ankara until Tuesday, according to the governor's offices. In Ankara, the ban includes all types of closed and open gatherings as well as signature campaigns and the distribution of flyers. Such bans are also in force in Istanbul up to and including Wednesday.
US government concerned about the situation
Following a meeting between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan, the US government expressed concern about the situation in the country. Rubio's spokeswoman Tammy Bruce stated that "the Secretary expressed his concerns about the recent arrests and protests in Turkey".
EPP leader: "Erdogan's Turkey is on the wrong track"
The leader of the EPP group, the largest group of MEPs in the European Parliament, Manfred Weber, also expressed his concern. He told the German Press Agency: "The EU wants a close partnership with Turkey, but this can only work on the basis of shared values." Using the judiciary as a political weapon is not compatible with these values. "Erdogan's Turkey is on the wrong path," Weber criticized. The rule of law and democracy could be damaged.
In the EU, a possible cancellation of planned talks on expanding cooperation with Turkey was recently considered due to the developments. The planned discussions had been announced by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen just a few days before Imamoglu's arrest. According to reports at the time, an EU-Turkey dialog on economic issues was being prepared for April, as well as another on migration and security issues.
The background to the plans was a mandate from the heads of state and government at a summit meeting in April 2024, at which it was agreed to strengthen relations with Turkey as much as possible - particularly because the country plays a key role in efforts to stabilize the eastern Mediterranean and solve migration problems.
Previously, projects such as the planned modernization of the customs union and visa liberalization had been put on hold due to setbacks in the rule of law, fundamental rights and freedom of expression in Turkey.
