Turkey Cracks Down Harder on Protesters as Tensions Escalate

The arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu has led to widespread protests, mass detentions, and intensified media restrictions, drawing global criticism of Turkey's democratic backsliding.

Nearly 1,900 people have been detained during protests, including journalists and Imamoglu's lawyer, as the government enforces bans on public gatherings.
Police have used water cannons, tear gas, and plastic bullets to disperse largely peaceful demonstrators, with reports of excessive force sparking international condemnation.
The Turkish government has escalated its media crackdown, deporting a BBC journalist, detaining others, and imposing a 10-day broadcast ban on an opposition TV channel.
Turkey’s economic instability has worsened, with the lira declining and investor confidence eroding following the protests and political turmoil.
Opposition leaders are calling for sustained demonstrations, while President Erdogan dismisses the protests as 'street terrorism' and accuses the opposition of sabotaging the economy.