“This Show Will Fade!”, Erdogan Dismisses Protests As Turkey Erupts Over Mayor’s Arrest

Anti-government demonstrations continue to sweep through Turkey after the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, the biggest opposition protests in a decade. Despite police crackdowns and mass arrests, protesters remain resolute, promising to continue their movement. President Tayyip Erdogan, however, downplayed the protests as a “show” that will eventually subside.

Following Imamoglu’s arrest last week on charges of corruption, which he vehemently denies, hundreds of thousands have marched every night in cities and university campuses, shouting slogans against Erdogan and calling for justice. The government has prohibited the marches, but protests continue, largely peaceful late into the evening hours when police have used clubs and pepper spray against objects hurled at them. Over 1,400 have been detained.

Opposition parties, human rights organizations, and European officials have decried the arrest of the mayor as politically driven and an attack on democracy. Protesters, ranging from students and professionals, have vented their anger, with others stating that they will continue to protest until they are exhausted. Although the central opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) initially intended to wind up key events at Sarachane Park, most claim they will keep protesting.

Erdogan, who has traditionally suppressed street demonstrations, has termed the protests “street terrorism.” Addressing a Ramadan ceremony, he called for restraint, advising that those intent on causing trouble were on a “dead-end path.” The government dismisses any political motivation in Imamoglu’s case, claiming judicial independence.

The CHP has made greater demands for people to mobilize, with leader Ozgur Ozel making a promise of continuous resistance and calling for a rally to mark the beginning of Imamoglu’s presidential bid. The political instability has already shaken financial markets, prompting the central bank in Turkey to make an intervention in stabilizing the lira. As tensions mount, international agencies, such as the UN, have called upon Turkey to protect the rights to peaceful assembly and free speech.