Turkey’s Last Fight for Democracy
- C. O.
- Apr 3
- 9 min read
"The government believes it can crush us with tear gas and bullets. But we are the children of Gezi, the so-called 'marauders.' We will not yield, and we will never stop fighting for our rights." — Verified protest participant (requested to remain anonymous)
Introduction
On March 19, 2025, the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu sent shockwaves through Turkey, igniting a nationwide uprising against decades of authoritarian rule under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Justice and Development Party (AKP). From Istanbul’s bustling Taksim Square to the vibrant streets of Ankara and Izmir, citizens have poured out in droves, demanding democracy, economic stability, and an end to repression.
Universities have shuttered, markets have plunged into chaos, and police forces have descended with unrelenting force. As of March 26, 2025, Turkey stands at a pivotal juncture: a potential rebirth of democratic ideals or a deeper descent into autocracy.
This movement, sparked by İmamoğlu’s detention, has swelled into a broader cry against systemic failures—economic collapse, judicial overreach, and curtailed freedoms. Drawing on exhaustive research, firsthand testimonies, economic data, and protest analyses, this article will try to offer an overall examination of Turkey’s most recent struggle against autocracy.
Drivers of the Protests
Political Catalyst: The Arrest of Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu
In the early hours of March 19, 2025, authorities stormed the residence of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, arresting him on charges of corruption and alleged affiliations with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a group classified as a terrorist organization by Turkey and its NATO allies (Ball-Nave, 2025). The raid, executed with precision, came mere days before his anticipated nomination as the Republican People’s Party (CHP) candidate for the 2028 presidential election—a move protesters decried as “a coup against our next president” (Survey Note, 2025). İmamoğlu, a charismatic opposition leader who secured Istanbul’s mayoralty in three legitimate elections, has long been a thorn in Erdoğan’s side, making his arrest a transparent attempt to neutralize a rising star.
The charges hinge on flimsy pretexts: alleged financial misconduct and tenuous links to the PKK, accusations that echo the government’s playbook against dissenters. By March 23, 2025, a court order for his continued detention was still pending, amplifying suspicions of judicial manipulation (Al-Loneau, 2025). Protesters see this as the latest salvo in a war on democracy, with one demonstrator stating, “This is not just about Ekrem—it’s about silencing us all.”
Systemic Grievances: Economic Collapse and Democratic Decay
Beyond İmamoğlu’s arrest, the protests are fueled by a litany of grievances. The judiciary’s politicization is a glaring issue, epitomized by Istanbul University’s abrupt annulment of İmamoğlu’s academic degree over supposed irregularities in his 1990 transfer from a northern Cyprus institution (Minneapolis, 2025). Under Turkish law, the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) can invalidate degrees from unrecognized schools, but the timing—decades later, as İmamoğlu’s political clout peaks— reeks of a calculated effort to disqualify him from future office. Critics point to similar cases, like allegations about Serra Akar’s (the daughter of Turkey’s Minister of National Defense from 2018 to 2023, Hulusi Akar) university transfer, as evidence of selective enforcement (Reuters, 2025).
Economic despair compounds the unrest. On March 19, the Turkish lira plummeted by up to 14.5% against the US dollar, while the BIST 100 index crashed 8.72%, falling from 10,802 to 9,880 points—marking the market’s worst week since 2008. The central bank exhausted nearly $10 billion in reserves to prop up the currency, yet Turkey’s 2045 dollar-denominated bond sank to 80.9 cents, reflecting a mass exodus of investor confidence (Gais, 2025). Inflation has surged beyond 29%, youth unemployment is climbing, and living costs are strangling households, with one protester lamenting, “There are problems with the economy, with education, with the health system—everything.”
Authoritarian measures fan the flames further. Bans on public gatherings, social media restrictions—over 700 accounts blocked—and media blackouts have stifled dissent, echoing tactics honed over Erdoğan’s 22-year tenure (Council of Europe, n.d.; Evrensel, 2025). The arrest of opposition figure Ümit Özdağ alongside İmamoğlu signals a widening net, targeting any voice of resistance (Survey Note, 2025). For many, this is the breaking point after years of eroded freedoms.
Scale and Historical Context: Gezi Park and Beyond
The 2013 Gezi Park protests provide a historical lens for today’s upheaval. Sparked by plans to redevelop Istanbul’s Gezi Park, that movement ballooned into a nationwide revolt against Erdoğan’s burgeoning authoritarianism, drawing 2.5 to 3.5 million participants across three weeks, which continued for approximately 3 months straight (Hürriyet Daily News, n.d.). It was a chaotic, leaderless surge—up to 100,000 rallied daily in key districts—marked by diverse coalitions and a visceral rejection of government overreach.
The 2025 protests, ignited by İmamoğlu’s arrest, are proving even more formidable. Within days, over 1 million people flooded Istanbul’s streets, with the movement spreading to 32 of Turkey’s 81 provinces (Reuters, 2025; The Guardian, 2025). CHP estimates peg daily turnout in Istanbul at 300,000, dwarfing Gezi’s peak gatherings (Survey Note, 2025). By March 26, over 1,100 arrests had been recorded amid a fierce government clampdown, yet the protests show no sign of abating (Al-Loneau, 2025). Unlike Gezi’s spontaneity, this movement benefits from CHP’s organizational backbone and İmamoğlu’s unifying presence, potentially positioning it to surpass its predecessor in scale and staying power.
International solidarity amplifies the stakes. Rallies in London, Berlin, and Amsterdam—organized by the Turkish diaspora—mirror modest global support during Gezi but with greater intensity, reflecting İmamoğlu’s global profile (Evrensel, 2025; Yeni Posta, 2025). If sustained, this could mark Turkey’s most consequential uprising yet.
Aspect | Gezi Park Protests (2013) | Current Protests (2025) |
Trigger | Gezi Park redevelopment; anti-AKP sentiment | İmamoğlu’s arrest; degree annulment; systemic failures |
Total Participation | 2.5–3.5 million over three weeks | Over 1 million in Istanbul; 32 provinces (ongoing) |
Peak Daily Attendance | Up to 100,000 in key districts | Up to 300,000 in Istanbul (CHP estimates) |
Arrests | Thousands over weeks | Over 1,100 reported by March 26, 2025 |
Organization | Spontaneous, leaderless, broad coalition | CHP-led; scheduled protests; İmamoğlu as focal point |
Government Response | Gradual escalation: tear gas, water cannons | Immediate arrests, protest bans, media suppression, along with tear gas and water cannons |
International Reach | Limited global protests | Rallies in London, Berlin, Amsterdam, Paris, and even more, strong diaspora support |
Strategic Evolution: Lessons from Gezi
The Gezi protests faltered under government smear campaigns, partly due to the presence of PKK flags and posters of leader Abdullah Öcalan, which allowed Erdoğan to paint the movement as extremist (Reuters, 2025). Learning from this, 2025 protesters are meticulous about optics. In Izmir, demonstrators swiftly removed a PKK banner, prioritizing a unified, mainstream message of “Right, law, justice!”—a slogan echoing across rallies (Survey Note, 2025). This deliberate rejection of divisive symbols aims to thwart government efforts to
delegitimize the cause.
Leadership has also evolved. Gezi’s organic, decentralized nature gave way to chaos; today, the CHP provides structure, scheduling protests and leveraging İmamoğlu’s stature to sustain momentum. Media strategies are sharper too—protesters counter censorship with cohesive messaging across platforms, amplifying their demands for democratic reform despite over 700 social media accounts being blocked (Evrensel, 2025). The response to repression is swifter: rallies erupt within hours of crackdowns, showcasing resilience honed over a decade of struggle.
Tactic | Gezi Park (2013) | Current Protests (2025) |
Leadership | Leaderless, grassroots | CHP-orchestrated; İmamoğlu as figurehead |
Media Messaging | Scattered, platform-dependent | Unified, censorship-resistant |
Response to Repression | Gradual mobilization | Rapid rallies despite arrests |
Slogans | Diverse, unfocused | “Right, law, justice!” as a rallying cry |
Legal Maneuvers and Institutional Erosion
The annulment of İmamoğlu’s degree by Istanbul University is a legal lightning rod. Citing irregularities in his 1990 transfer from a northern Cyprus institution, the decision falls under YÖK’s authority to void credentials from unaccredited schools (Reuters, 2025). Yet, its timing — 35 years later, as İmamoğlu neared a presidential bid — betrays political intent. Protesters see it as a blatant move to bar him from office, especially given his three electoral victories as mayor. The controversy mirrors claims about Hulusi Akar’s daughter’s transfer, highlighting a pattern of selective scrutiny (Reuters, 2025).
Judicial pressure mounts elsewhere. As of March 23, 2025, a court order for İmamoğlu’s detention remained unresolved, fueling debates over judicial independence (Al-Loneau, 2025). The arrest of Ümit Özdağ, another opposition leader, on vague charges underscores a broader assault on dissent (Survey Note, 2025). A group of students from the Galatasaray University Law Faculty have developed a report where they meticulously documented these anomalies, alongside protest-related violence, offering a scathing critique of police and judicial overreach. Access it here: Galatasaray University Law Faculty Report.
State Repression: Force and Censorship
The government’s response has been brutal. In Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir, police have deployed tear gas, water cannons, and pepper spray with abandon, targeting crowds of all ages (BBC News, 2025; The Guardian, 2025). Reports of excessive force abound—female students subjected to strip-searches in detention have sparked particular outrage (Survey Note, 2025). By March 26, over 1,100 arrests were logged, with detainees facing harsh
conditions (Al-Loneau, 2025). The toll on law enforcement is grim too: a surge in police suicides reflects societal scorn, with officers’ children reportedly ashamed of their parents’ roles (At Monitor, 2025).
Media suppression is relentless. Over 700 social media accounts have been silenced, live broadcasts are curtailed, and journalists—over 1,100 arrested since March 19—face unprecedented pressure (AP News, 2025; Evrensel, 2025). This blackout aims to obscure the protests’ scale and brutality, but citizen journalists and diaspora networks keep the story alive.
Global Echoes: International Reactions
The crisis has ignited global outcry. Turkish communities abroad have rallied in London (outside the Turkish Embassy), Berlin, and Amsterdam, demanding action against Turkey’s repression (Evrensel, 2025; Yeni Posta, 2025). The European Committee of the Islamic President branded İmamoğlu’s arrest “a disastrous day for Turkey,” while Germany’s Federal Foreign Office called it a “heavy blow for democracy” (SGA, 2025; Federal Eastern Europe, 2025). The EU, Amnesty International, and the Council of Europe have decried Turkey’s democratic backsliding, warning it jeopardizes Copenhagen Criteria compliance for EU membership (Council of Europe, n.d.; BBC Turkish, 2025).
This mirrors pro-democracy surges in Serbia and Greece, where social media has fueled accountability drives. Turkey’s diaspora, leveraging platforms despite domestic blocks, amplifies the movement’s reach, drawing parallels to global fights against authoritarianism.
Economic Fallout: A Nation in Crisis
The protests have triggered economic chaos. On March 19, 2025, the Turkish lira lost up to 14.5% against the US dollar, prompting a frantic $10 billion reserve burn by the central bank (Gais, 2025). The BIST 100 index shed 8.72%, tumbling from 10,802 to 9,880 points—the steepest drop since 2008. Turkey’s 2045 bond fell to 80.9 cents, signaling a flight of foreign capital (Gais, 2025). Inflation exceeds 29%, youth unemployment spikes, and the Turkish Industry and Business Association (RHEH) warns of a derailed
recovery (Eorago Affairs, 2025).
Social metrics paint a dire picture. Press freedom is gutted, with over 700 accounts blocked; judicial independence is a sham, riddled with political rulings; and poverty and mortality rates soar, straining healthcare and welfare systems (Survey Note, 2025; At Monitor, 2025). The crisis is a vicious cycle: economic ruin fuels protests, which in turn deepen the downturn.
Indicator | Pre-Protest (Early 2025) | Post-Protest (March 26, 2025) | Implications |
Turkish Lira vs. USD | Weak but stable | 14.5% drop | Investor flight; rising imports |
BIST 100 Index | 10,802 points | 9,880 points (-8.72%) | Market panic; worst since 2008 |
Central Bank Reserves | Limited buffer | -$10 billion | Vulnerability to shocks |
2045 Bond Value | Stable | 80.9 cents | Debt crisis looming |
Inflation Rate | High but contained | Over 29% | Eroded purchasing power |
Youth Unemployment | Elevated | Sharp rise | Social unrest; lost generation |
Press Freedom | Restricted | 700+ accounts blocked | Silenced discourse |
Judicial Independence | Compromised | Political rulings rampant | Trust collapse |
Poverty/Mortality | Rising | Accelerated increase | Health and equity crisis |
Societal Toll: A Fractured Nation
The crisis ravages Turkey’s social fabric. Corruption and failing services have spiked maternal mortality and child poverty, with healthcare buckling under economic strain (At Monitor, 2025). Policing takes its own toll: a surge in police suicides—linked to societal disdain and familial shame—reveals the human cost of repression (AL-Monitor, 2025). One officer’s child reportedly said, “I’m ashamed to say my father is a cop,” a sentiment echoing
across communities (Survey Note, 2025).
The arrests of İmamoğlu and Ümit Özdag signal a relentless crackdown, risking irreversible damage to social cohesion and institutional trust. Universities, closed amid the unrest, leave students in limbo, while markets reel, deepening daily hardships (Survey Note, 2025).
Nationalist Tensions and the Öcalan Gambit
In October 2024, MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli proposed parole for PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan if he renounced violence and disbanded the group—a stunning shift from a hardline nationalist (MHP Leader Statements, 2024). Possibly an AKP ploy to pacify Kurdish regions, the idea split opinion: Kurds celebrated, nationalists seethed (Reuters, 2025). İmamoğlu’s arrest, tied to PKK allegations, muddies this fragile overture, potentially scuttling peace efforts and sharpening the protests’ focus on democratic reform over ethnic fault lines (Survey Note, 2025).
The government’s nationalist rhetoric—casting protesters as terrorists—clashes with this conciliatory gesture, exposing strategic disarray as Erdoğan balances domestic control with regional stability (Reuters, 2025).
Conclusion
Since March 19, 2025, Turkey’s streets have roared with defiance, transforming Ekrem İmamoğlu’s arrest into a clarion call for democracy, justice, and survival. Over 1 million in Istanbul, spanning 32 provinces, rally behind a leader who embodies hope against Erdoğan’s 22-year reign. Economic ruin, judicial corruption, and brutal repression have fused into a perfect storm, birthing a movement that could redefine Turkey’s future.
Schooled by Gezi’s triumphs and pitfalls, protesters wield CHP’s organization, shun divisive symbols, and harness global support—rallies from London to Berlin amplify their voice. They demand “Right, law, justice!” with a unity that defies tear gas and arrests. The stakes are staggering: a democratic renaissance or an authoritarian abyss.
Turkey teeters on the edge. The lira crumbles, institutions falter, and society frays—yet the people endure. With the world watching, the following months will decide if this fight topples a regime or entrenches it further. One truth rings clear: Turkey’s last stand for democracy is here, and its outcome will echo far beyond its borders.
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