Overview

• The arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on March 19, 2025, has sparked Turkey's largest anti-government protests in over a decade, with over 2,000 detentions reported.
• The Republican People's Party (CHP), led by Ozgur Ozel, is holding an extraordinary congress to re-elect Ozel as leader and to rally support for Imamoglu's release.
• Protesters, spanning diverse political and social groups, are united by concerns over authoritarianism, erosion of secular values, and democratic backsliding under President Erdogan.
• Police have responded to demonstrations with tear gas and plastic pellets, while protesters have organized boycotts and rallies, with clashes continuing across multiple provinces.
• International criticism of Turkey's democratic trajectory is growing, as the CHP positions itself as a central force in opposition to Erdogan's government.