Hundreds Arrested in Turkey, Erdogan Accused of Opposition Clampdown

Hundreds of people have been arrested across Turkey during protests against the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who is considered the main political rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Demonstrations took place in more than a dozen cities—including the country’s largest, Istanbul, and its capital, Ankara.

Turkey’s Interior Ministry said it would not tolerate “provocation” and that 343 people were arrested to prevent the disruption of public order.

Yörük Işık, a geopolitical analyst in Istanbul, told Newsweek that the protests were sparked by Erdogan’s attempt to decimate the opposition and replace it with figures he can control.

Newsweek has contacted the Turkish Foreign Ministry for comment.

Why It Matters

Imamoglu, who is from the secular Republican People’s Party (CHP), is considered one of Erdogan’s strongest political rivals for the 2028 presidential election. His arrest—along with other politicians, journalists and business owners—has led to concerns about the incumbent president’s authoritarianism.

What To Know

Imamoglu won a second term as Istanbul’s mayor in 2024 when his CHP party swept local elections there and in Ankara. The result delivered a blow to Erdogan, who grew up in and was once mayor of Istanbul.

Days before he was due to be announced as a 2028 presidential candidate, Imamoglu was detained on what his party said were politically motivated charges, including graft and aiding the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which the government designated as a terrorist organization.

Since Wednesday, Imamoglu’s detention has prompted tens of thousands of people to take to the streets throughout Turkey in mostly peaceful demonstrations.

On the third night of protests, thousands gathered in Istanbul, and there were clashes with riot police, who reportedly fired rubber bullets and pepper gas. Other incidents of unrest were reported in Izmir.

Questions have risen over why Erdogan would clamp down on the opposition with elections still three years away. Işık, the head of the Bosphorus Observer consultancy, told Newsweek that Erdogan might be calculating that no economic program could create enough to please workers in the country.

As such, he must bring back a patronage network that made him strong leader whose network center is Istanbul, he added.

The Turkish president has condemned the protests and said on Friday that his government would not surrender to terrorism. He also called the CHP “thieves.”

Erdogan, who has held office for the past 22 years as both prime minister and president of Turkey, is ineligible to run for office again in 2028 because of term limits. His allies have called for him to change this by amending the constitution.

What People Are Saying

Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: “We will not allow a handful of thieves within the CHP to turn their own issues into the people’s issues.”

Yörük Işık, a geopolitical analyst in Istanbul, told Newsweek: “[Erdogan] is taking this moment to fully decimate the Turkish opposition.”

What Happens Next

Imamoglu is expected to be brought to court to face prosecutors. His CHP party has said it will hold a nationwide primary vote on Sunday in which Imamoglu is the only candidate.

While a general election is not scheduled for three years, the CHP has said nominating Imamoglu now may pressure parliament to call a snap vote, as many voters are unhappy with the country’s economic situation.