• Economy
  • Editor’s Pick
Money Rise Today – Investing and Stock News
  • Investing
  • Stock
Editor's Pick

Turkey’s Erdogan continues crackdown on protesters following arrest of main rival on corruption charges

by March 24, 2025
written by March 24, 2025

The recent arrest of Istanbul’s Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and main rival of President Erdoğan has sparked the largest protests in Turkey in a decade, with over 1,100 people detained in demonstrations across the country.

The Istanbul mayor and 106 other municipal officials and politicians were detained on March 19 for what Human Rights Watch called a politically motivated move to stifle lawful political activities.

‘By forcing Imamoglu out of politics, the government has crossed the line that separates Turkey’s competitive authoritarian regime from a full, Russian-style autocracy in which the president handpicks his opponents and elections are purely for show,’ Gonul Tol, Director of Turkish Program at the Middle East Institute, told Fox News Digital.

A spokesperson from Turkey’s embassy in Washington, D.C., told Fox News Digital that Turkey’s Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said 1,133 people have been detained since the arrest of the mayor, and around 123 police officers have been injured since the start of protests. Yerlikaya also alleged that weapons were seized during the protests and the individuals detained were found to have ties to different terrorist organizations and prior criminal records.

Some experts believe the move was orchestrated by Erdoğan to sideline the opposition, silence political dissent and increase his own power.

‘This is a dark time for democracy in Turkey, with such a blatantly lawless move to weaponize the justice system to cancel the democratic process,’ Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia Director at Human Rights Watch, told Fox News Digital in a statement.

In an address to celebrate the festival of Nowruz on Friday, Erdoğan said Turkey was not a country that was found on the street and will not submit to street terrorism.

‘We will not allow public order to be damaged. We will not give in to vandalism or street terrorism,’ Erdoğan said, according to Reuters.

The opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) held a symbolic primary vote over the weekend and nominated İmamoğlu to be the party’s candidate for president to face Erdoğan in the 2028 elections.

Despite the increased repression and threats to their own safety and security, the Turkish opposition does not yet seem to be backing down.

‘We, as the main opposition party that emerged as the first party in the last local elections in March 2024, will stand firm and resist any kind of oppression by the government,’ İlhan Uzgel, CHP Deputy Chairman for Foreign Policy, told Fox News Digital.

Uzgel said Erdoğan seems frightened of losing power, and is urging opposition supporters to take to the streets to defend democracy, challenge lawlessness, and challenge the Erdoğan government’s abuse of power.  

‘We are happy to see that our people take to the streets despite the occasional use of force by the riot police, and demonstrate peacefully, which is a constitutional right,’ he added.

Imamoglu, who is presently jailed and is awaiting trial on corruption charges, was viewed as the most serious challenger to the decades-long rule of Erdoğan. His detention will likely keep him out of the political opposition for the foreseeable future, dealing a huge blow to Turkey’s pro-democracy movement. 

Tol of the Middle East Institute said Erdoğan is banking on people’s anger dissipating over time and that the mass protests will eventually die down. The election is not scheduled until 2028, and people, Erdoğan hopes, will most likely forget and move on.

The danger, according to Tol, is that street protests in the Middle East and elsewhere tend to go in many different directions, and there is no telling how long the public anger over the arrests will last and how much more popular support the movement will gain.

İmamoğlu, member of the secular Republican People’s Party (CHP), was elected mayor of Istanbul in 2019 and re-elected in 2023. In both elections, he defeated Erdoğan-backed opponents. 

Turkey’s problems come at a time when President Trump is reportedly considering lifting sanctions on the NATO member and resuming the sale of F-35 fighter jets following a recent phone call with Erdoğan.

Reuters contributed to this article.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
0 comment
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

previous post
From ‘food justice’ to ‘useless surveys,’ Trump’s Cabinet reveals ‘nonsensical’ contracts it has canceled
next post
Trump nominates Susan Monarez to become the next CDC director, says Americans ‘lost confidence’ in agency

related articles

Cambodia to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize...

August 2, 2025

Recess on ice as Republicans hunker down for...

August 1, 2025

Trump moves nuclear submarines weeks after praising sub’s...

August 1, 2025

WATCH: Trump says he is hopeful Hillary Clinton...

August 1, 2025

Iran says it has ‘plenty of scientists’ left...

August 1, 2025

Trump endorses ‘MAGA warrior’ for RNC chairman after...

August 1, 2025

Trump repositions 2 nuclear submarines after ‘highly provocative’...

August 1, 2025

Kavanaugh cites 3 presidents in explaining Supreme Court’s...

August 1, 2025

China’s growing nuclear arsenal aims to break US...

August 1, 2025

Trump ally Bukele’s party amends El Salvador constitution...

August 1, 2025
Enter Your Information Below To Receive Free Trading Ideas, Latest News, And Articles.


Your information is secure and your privacy is protected. By opting in you agree to receive emails from us. Remember that you can opt-out any time, we hate spam too!

Latest News

  • Agent’s alleged attempt to smuggle wife on Trump’s Scotland trip being probed in latest Secret Service fiasco

    July 30, 2025
  • Super Bowl ads beckon up to $8 million apiece for Fox

    January 30, 2025
  • Musk officially steps down from DOGE after wrapping work streamlining government

    May 29, 2025
  • Biden pressing on with ‘full bore’ schedule, despite admission he needs to slow ‘pace’

    July 13, 2024
  • Obama allies, advisers helped lead the charge among Dems looking to sink Biden ahead of official announcement

    July 21, 2024

Popular Posts

  • 1

    Secret Service admits leaning on ‘state and local partners’ after claim it ignored Trump team’s past requests

    July 21, 2024
  • 2

    Five more House Democrats call on Biden to drop out, third US senator

    July 19, 2024
  • 3

    Elon and Vivek should tackle US funding for this boondoogle organization and score a multimillion dollar win

    December 4, 2024
  • 4

    Forex Profit Calculator: Maximize Your Trading Potential

    July 10, 2024
  • 5

    Biden calls to ‘lower the temperature’ then bashes Trump in NAACP speech

    July 17, 2024

Categories

  • Economy (829)
  • Editor's Pick (5,603)
  • Investing (634)
  • Stock (867)

Latest Posts

  • Remains of Shiri Bibas, mom of two killed, allegedly returned to Israel following Hamas’ broken promise

    February 22, 2025
  • As Tesla shares struggle in 2025, short sellers pocket $11.5B in profits

    April 22, 2025
  • Biden still believes ‘no one is above the law,’ White House says in wake of Hunter pardon

    December 2, 2024

Recent Posts

  • Pentagon lacks counter-drone procedure leading to incursions like at Langley, experts say

    October 21, 2024
  • Dems hitting Vance with debunked vulgar claim ‘undermine’ their anti-Trump credibility, strategist says

    August 12, 2024
  • Lawmakers react to stopgap funding and averting government shutdown

    December 21, 2024

Editor’s Pick

  • Dems seek retaliation over GOP cuts as Thune calls for ‘cooperation’ on funding vote

    July 22, 2025
  • Trump’s interior chief to unleash Gulf drilling with major rule change

    May 2, 2025
  • How To Invest In Stocks in UK: Guide For Beginner Traders

    July 25, 2024
  • About us
  • Contacts
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Disclaimer: moneyrisetoday.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

Copyright © 2025 moneyrisetoday.com | All Rights Reserved

Money Rise Today – Investing and Stock News
  • Economy
  • Editor’s Pick
Money Rise Today – Investing and Stock News
  • Investing
  • Stock