Protests in Turkey Intensify Over Istanbul Mayor’s Arrest and Broader Discontent

The detention of Ekrem Imamoglu has galvanized nationwide demonstrations, with calls for democracy, economic reform, and judicial independence growing louder.

• The arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on corruption charges, widely seen as politically motivated, has triggered Turkey’s largest anti-government protests in over a decade.
• Protesters, led by the opposition CHP, demand democratic reforms, judicial independence, and economic relief, as inflation and a depreciating lira exacerbate public frustration.
• Over 1,900 arrests have been reported, including students, journalists, and activists, as the government intensifies its crackdown on dissent.
• The CHP has called for weekly rallies and economic boycotts targeting businesses linked to President Erdogan’s government, further mobilizing urban middle-class participants.
• International criticism of Erdogan’s government has grown, with solidarity protests occurring abroad, particularly in cities like Berlin, highlighting the global resonance of Turkey’s political crisis.

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