Wave of Oppression: Arrests of Opposition Politicians Surge in Turkey
Turkey experiences a surge in arrests of opposition politicians amidst political tensions.
Key Points
- • CHP officials, including the mayor of Istanbul, have been arrested since March 2025.
- • Political expert Berk Esen describes the crackdown as unprecedented.
- • Elections in Turkey may be advanced to autumn 2027.
- • Public protests continue in support of the detained opposition members.
In a significant crackdown on dissent, Turkey has seen a dramatic increase in the arrest of opposition politicians, primarily targeting the main opposition party, the Republican People's Party (CHP). Since the arrest of Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu in March 2025, hundreds of local officials, including mayors and municipal councilors, have been taken into custody on allegations of organized crime ties. According to political analyst Berk Esen, this wave of arrests represents an unprecedented level of repression against political opponents, with many detained without clear charges.
Zeydan Karalar, the mayor of Adana, was filmed during his arrest declaring, "Where there is a journalist or a powerful politician, they silence him." This repression appears to be part of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's strategy to undermine the CHP ahead of the upcoming elections, which are now speculated to be moved forward to the autumn of 2027. Despite the heavy crackdown, public support for the CHP remains strong, with protests continuing in solidarity with the arrested officials. Observers note that Erdogan aims to fragment the opposition further, modeled after authoritarian practices seen in other nations, such as Venezuela.