Turkey's Opposition Calls for Economic Boycott as Protests Over Istanbul Mayor's Arrest Persist

The arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu has triggered Turkey's largest protests since 2013, with over 2,000 arrested and opposition leaders pushing for sustained action against Erdogan's government.

• The detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on March 19, 2025, has led to ongoing nationwide protests demanding justice, democracy, and economic reform.
• Over 2,000 protesters have been arrested, with reports of police repression and the government labeling demonstrators as terrorists to delegitimize the movement.
• The protests have highlighted Turkey's worsening economic crisis, with the Turkish lira depreciating further and inflation straining citizens' livelihoods.
• Opposition leaders have called for an economic boycott of businesses linked to the government starting April 2, as a less risky form of protest to sustain momentum.
• Despite heavy crackdowns and Ramadan-related holidays slowing large-scale demonstrations, opposition leaders reaffirm Imamoglu as their 2028 presidential candidate.

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