The Republican People's Party (CHP), Turkey's main opposition force, has called for a mass rally this Saturday in Istanbul to denounce the arrest of its leader, Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. This show of force comes after several days of massive mobilization across the country, where anti-government protests have not reached this intensity since 2013. Party leader Özgür Özel has promised weekly rallies across the country, assuring that he is ready to go to prison if necessary: "If we don't repel this coup attempt, the polls will be over."
Since Mr. Imamoglu's arrest on March 19, Turkish authorities have launched a sweeping crackdown. More than 2 people have been arrested, including 000 students in Istanbul, and scores of journalists, lawyers, and protesters have been arrested at their homes. Foreign reporters, such as Swedish journalist Joakim Medin, have been imprisoned or deported, fueling growing concerns about press freedom in the country.
A decisive test for the opposition
The CHP's rally, held on the eve of Eid al-Fitr, represents a crucial political test, as many Istanbulites have left the city. Despite this, the party claims to have mobilized fifteen million participants in a symbolic primary in support of Imamoglu. For Özgür Özel, this rally marks "the beginning of a journey" toward power.
While Recep Tayyip Erdogan granted nine days of leave to civil servants for Ramadan, the opposition is trying to keep the flames of protest alive. But the pressure from the regime is growing stronger: arbitrary arrests, bans on demonstrations, prosecutions of journalists. The standoff between the Islamo-conservative government and the Kemalist opposition is now entering a decisive phase.
