Turkey's Unrest: What's Really Happening Beyond a Mayor's Arrest

Mar 24, 2025 Komal Das

Protests erupt in Turkey after Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu's arrest, sparking major anti-government unrest

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Ekrem Imamoglu, 54, a prominent Turkish opposition leader from the CHP, became Istanbul’s mayor in 2019, ending the AKP's 25-year reign in the city

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Imamoglu’s arrest and diploma invalidation are seen as moves to weaken Turkey’s opposition before elections

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Thousands protested Imamoglu’s arrest, calling it a “political coup,” while global leaders criticized it as a threat to Turkish democracy

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Imamoglu’s arrest disrupts opposition plans, with early elections possible despite Erdogan’s term limit

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Political unrest and Erdogan’s control may reshape Turkey’s future and global role

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