ISTANBUL – Protests triggered by the detainment of Istanbul’s opposition mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, intensified on Wednesday with demonstrators advocating for a one-day boycott of shopping activities.
The arrest of Imamoglu, who poses a significant threat to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s leadership, has been met with widespread criticism. With allegations of corruption and terrorism, many claim these charges are politically driven, though the government maintains that the judiciary operates independently without political encroachment.
Imamoglu’s political party has thrown its support behind the boycott initiative. “I urge everyone to participate in this boycott and wield their influence stemming from consumption,” declared Ozgur Ozel, head of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), via social media.
Ozel particularly called for the boycott of corporations that are perceived as government supporters, especially media outlets that failed to cover the mass protests demanding Imamoglu’s release and denouncing democratic regression.
The government’s reaction to these boycott calls was immediate. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya labeled the boycott “an act of sabotage” and likened it to “a coup attempt against our economy.” Trade Minister Omer Bolat suggested that businesses experiencing financial challenges as a result could pursue compensation claims against the organizers of the boycott.
Bolat shared images of himself partaking in shopping activities on social media, emphasizing it as “a day to defend the national economy.”
Turkey’s broadcasting authority is contemplating punitive actions against news media that report on the boycott. Just last week, a broadcasting freeze was imposed on an opposition channel, alongside fines and program suspensions for others.
The Istanbul Chief Prosecutor’s Office has launched a criminal probe into these opposition-led boycott appeals.
Rifat Hisarciklioglu, who presides over the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey, criticized the targeting of businesses, arguing they should be excluded from political discourse.
In the midst of these developments, an events company, whose owner disparaged protestors by labeling them “traitors,” announced the cancellation of scheduled concerts, including performances by international artists such as Robbie Williams, Muse, and Ane Brun.
From his prison confines since March 23, Imamoglu communicated on social media that European leaders have begun distancing themselves from Turkey. This includes the European Commission withdrawing from the Antalya Diplomacy Forum and European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos canceling a meeting with Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.
Despite being imprisoned, Imamoglu has been chosen as the CHP’s candidate for the presidency, with elections set for 2028, although an earlier date seems probable.
According to independent reports, around 2,000 individuals have been detained since Imamoglu’s arrest on March 19, with 316 held awaiting trial. Charges against them mainly relate to protest participation.
Attorneys representing detained protesters have voiced allegations of police mistreatment. They report that detainees have faced beatings, deprivation of essential needs, prolonged handcuffing, and restricted access to legal and familial support.
The Lawyer’s Voice Initiative, based in Istanbul, noted the physical abuse of many students, including one with arm numbness and a female student with broken ribs.
Currently, the Turkish government has not issued a response to these allegations.