Protests Escalate in Turkey as Police Crack Down on Demonstrators

Nationwide unrest continues following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, with police using force against student protesters and international criticism mounting.

Police deployed pepper spray, rubber bullets, and water cannons against student protesters in Ankara on March 27, reigniting tensions after a brief lull in demonstrations.
The protests, sparked by the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on March 19, have spread to over 55 provinces, with more than 1,400 people detained so far.
President Erdogan has dismissed the protests as 'street terrorism' and accused the opposition of sabotaging the economy, which has suffered significant declines during the unrest.
The opposition CHP has formally nominated Imamoglu as its 2028 presidential candidate, using his imprisonment to rally support and demand early elections.
International condemnation continues to grow, with the U.N. and U.S. expressing concerns over police violence and the arrests of journalists covering the demonstrations.