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Turkey’s Opposition Rallies Against Erdogan as Protests Intensify

CHP leader Ozgur Ozel pledges continued demonstrations and demands early elections following Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu’s arrest.

Ozgur Ozel, leader of Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), attends a rally to protest against the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu as part of a corruption investigation, in Istanbul, Turkey, March 29, 2025. REUTERS/Umit Bektas/File Photo
FILE - A protester throws a firework during a protest against the arrest of Istanbul's Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, in Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday, March 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra, File)
FILE - Riot police use pepper spray to clear a protester during a protest against the arrest of Istanbul's Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, in Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday, March 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra, File)
University students march past a photograph of Turkey's founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in Istanbul, Turkey, Thursday, March 27, 2025, during a protest after Istanbul's Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested and sent to prison. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Overview

  • CHP leader Ozgur Ozel was re-elected during an extraordinary congress, solidifying his leadership amid ongoing anti-government protests.
  • Protests erupted after the March 19 arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on corruption charges, which critics allege are politically motivated.
  • Nearly 2,000 protesters have been detained, with 300 formally arrested, as demonstrations continue across Turkey.
  • The CHP has reaffirmed Imamoglu as its 2028 presidential candidate and launched a petition for his release and early elections, garnering over 7 million signatures.
  • The Erdogan government denies judicial interference, while international criticism grows over Turkey's handling of the protests and perceived erosion of democratic freedoms.