Turkey's Opposition Vows Continued Protests Until Mayor is Released

The Turkish opposition's resolve hardens as protests against President Erdogan's government mount, sparked by the arrest of Istanbul's mayor Ekrem Imamoglu.

The head of Turkey's main opposition party, Ozgur Ozel, has declared that protests will persist "in every city" until either early presidential elections are announced or the imprisoned mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, is liberated. This statement was made during an interview with the BBC while the party organizes a significant gathering planned for this Saturday in Istanbul, aimed at kickstarting Imamoglu's presidential campaign for the elections scheduled in 2028.

"We will hold the largest rallies in history across various cities," Ozel asserted while at his party headquarters in Istanbul, exuding confidence in the public's support for Imamoglu and democratic values. Since Imamoglu's arrest a week ago, the opposition has mobilized thousands, leading to massive demonstrations, some of which marked the largest streets protests seen in the last ten years.

However, the unrest has also led to mass arrests, with over 1,400 individuals detained, including seven journalists covering the situation. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has responded harshly to the protests, branding them as "street terrorism," alleging that protesters have instigated violence against police and property. He predicted that the opposition’s fervor would soon diminish.

Ozel recently visited Imamoglu at Silivri Prison and reported that while the mayor is in solitary confinement, he remains in "good condition" without mistreatment. Ozel dismissed the corruption charges against Imamoglu as unfounded, describing the allegations as a "scam" to discredit a leading political figure. He pointed out that the supposed bribe involving cheap land acquisition was merely a deposit.

Imamoglu vehemently denies charges, including establishing a criminal organization and extortion, claiming his arrest serves to thwart his presidential ambitions. The opposition believes that the societal reaction in Turkey and international pressure will influence Imamoglu's fate.

Despite the growing unrest, Ozel expressed disappointment at the lack of response from the UK Labour Party, asserting that their silence on the matter is painful for the opposition. He contrasted this with reactions from other European countries, casting doubt on the UK's commitment to uphold democratic values.

Ozel emphasized that if Imamoglu's candidacy remains blocked, the CHP is prepared to nominate alternative candidates, confident they could secure a significant electoral victory. "Any member of CHP can be a candidate and would be elected with 65% to 70%," he concluded.