Turkey: Over 1000 arrested in protests as democracy in crisis
Over 1,000 people have been arrested in anti-government protests in Turkey in a move which could signal Turkish democracy in crisis.
Five days of the largest protests the country has seen in the last decade come after the arrest of President Erdogan’s main political rival under corruption and terrorist charges, reported by Al Jazeera on March 24th.
Despite banning public protests after Imamoglu’s arrest, thousands of Turkish people have erupted onto the streets to protest the apparent turn towards authoritarianism from the President, who according to the Turkish Constitution cannot run again in 2028.
Mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu, was arrested on March 19th accused of “establishing and managing a criminal organization, taking bribes, extortion, unlawfully recording personal data and rigging a tender,” according to the BBC, as well as accusations of aiding the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a registered terrorist organization in Turkey, the UK, and US.
Imamoglu is widely considered the only politician who could pose a significant threat to Erdogan, who has been ruling the country since 2003, and the ruling party. Following his arrest he was formally elected as leader of the opposition in a symbolic vote where he received 15 million votes.
His arrest follows rising concerns over the condition of Turkish democracy as 10 Turkish journalists were also detained at home on Monday 24th, according to the Media and Law Studies Association rights group, also reported by Al Jazeera.
Maghrebi has also reported on the arrest of two district mayors along with other several prominent figures in Turkey, a sign that political dissent is becoming increasingly suppressed.
Whilst the European Commission has urged Turkey to “uphold democratic values” as a country that is both a member of the Council of Europe and a candidate for joining the EU, the reaction from the West has been one of resounding silence.
Turkey’s influence in Europe and strategic importance has dramatically surged in recent years. Turkey have the second-largest army in NATO and with Trump’s ambivalent rhetoric regarding the security institution could elevate Turkey to the most militarily-equipped member of NATO.
Additionally, their role in Syrian stability, arms supplies to Ukraine, interests in the Gaza-Israel war has rendered Turkey a Great Power in the new era of strongmen. It appears the west is happy to turn a blind eye to human rights violations and authoritarian upgrading in Turkey in exchange for their support and security in an unstable time.
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