There is growing unrest in Turkey with protests in cities across the country (Huseyin Aldemir/AP)
AP
Tamara Davison3 days ago
Police in Turkey have unleashed water cannons, pepper spray, and plastic pellets on young protestors denouncing the recent arrest of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s political rival.
Widespread demonstrations have erupted across several Turkish cities this week, with people taking to the streets en masse after Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was detained pending corruption charges.
Protestors and rights groups have suggested that the mayor’s detainment was politically motivated.
Despite a ban on gatherings and demonstrations in parts of Turkey, around 1,900 protestors—and a number of local and foreign journalists—have been arrested as mainly peaceful protests continue across the country and tensions rise.
On Thursday, security personnel used heavy-handed force to break up a gathering of Turkish students who had met near the gates of the Middle East Technical University in Ankara.
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According to AP, the students were met with pepper spray, water cannons, and plastic pellets, which forced many to hide behind a barricade of dumpsters.
Melih Meric, a legislator associated with Imamoglu’s party, was reportedly seen on site and later said on social media: “My student friends only wanted to make a press statement, but the police strictly did not allow it, this is the result.”
Police have also reportedly carried out raids on homes thought to be associated with protestors, as authorities attempt to further crack down on escalating social unrest.
Erdoğan has branded the protests "street terrorism” and recently said: “Those who terrorize our streets and want to turn this country into a place of chaos have nowhere to go. The path they have taken is a dead end."
Imamoğlu, a prominent rival to Erdogan, and a number of other figures associated with his party were arrested on March 19 following an alleged crackdown on corruption and terror.
The politician, who was just days away from an election where he was expected to be nominated as his party’s leader, has denounded the charges as "unimaginable accusations and slanders."
EPA
According to Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch, “Imamoğlu’s unjustified detention violates the rights of millions of Istanbul voters to their chosen representatives and spells a doubling down of the Erdoğan presidency against Türkiye’s political opposition, which goes far beyond the individuals involved.”
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The crackdown on Erdoğan’s political rivals comes amid concerns that Turkish authorities are attempting to restructure Turkey’s political landscape three years before the next presidential election.
Based on Turkey’s constitution, Erdoğan - who has been leading Turkey for 22 years - would need to step down as president in 2028 as he’s bound by a two-term limit.
However, some political experts believe that the autocrat may try to extend his leadership by changing the constitution or holding an early election. Ousting his political rivals ahead of time may help him achieve such goals.
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