More than 1,100 arrested now.

UPDATES

Thx. The EC siding against Erdogan is a big deal, imho.

Quote:

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Germany is following the events in Turkey with "great concern," the outgoing government said on Monday.
"The arrest and suspension of the mayor of Istanbul is totally unacceptable," said Steffen Hebestreit, a spokesperson for outgoing chancellor Olaf Scholz.

"This must be clarified very quickly and transparently."

Hebestreit added that "the latest developments are a bad sign for democracy in Turkey," as well as for the development of relations between Turkey and the EU.

The European Union also called on Turkey to "uphold democratic values" on Monday.
"We want Turkey to remain anchored to Europe, but this requires a clear commitment to democratic norms and practices," a European Commission spokesperson told reporters in Brussels.

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He's been charged with terrorism, not just some minor crimes such as corruption.

Note (not to OA), I'm not championing this guy, it's just improbable to me that the protesters get the charges against him dropped. BTW, this is Erdogan taking advantage of European weakness with the Ukraine conflict ongoing, at least, if one takes the AP seriously. This follows similar moves though in Romania, etc.

Quote:

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In recent years he has been the target of several criminal cases that could result in prison sentences and a political ban. Last week, a university nullified his diploma, a decision that effectively bars him from running for president.

All of which would make it seem unnecessary to arrest and jail him, risking the public backlash currently being played out in the streets of Turkey.

Selim Koru, a political analyst at the Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey, said the earlier cases would merely make Imamoglu seem a "perfectly fine politician who was unfairly disqualified."

Writing in his Kulturkampf Substack, Koru added: "They had to make him into a villain to give their claims force … The strategic rationale is evident at once. The presidential elections are scheduled for 2028, so the regime wanted to get rid of Imamoglu before then, knock down the CHP while you're at it, then take a couple of years for things to calm down."

And as to the significance putting Imamoglu behind bars, Marks said it represents the "last stop on Turkey's political train before it hits full dictatorship station."

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nortex97 said:

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It feels like there was a possibility of a revolution a few years ago, but is this going to happen/force a real change this time?

Yes, my daughter has Turkish friends and is surprised how little we’re hearing.

— @instapundit (@instapundit) March 22, 2025

As with Syria, and Libya/Iraq before that, I'm not a big fan of the guy running it, but wonder what outcome would be most likely? They are facing rampant stagflation (of around 50%/year) while spending huge (comparative) sums on weapons/war (including in Syria). Reasons for Euro/American skepticism:

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And let us not forget the immigration mess. Turkey has long played gatekeeper to Europe's borders, holding millions of migrants as a bargaining chip. The 2016 EU-Turkey deal was meant to fix this, but Ankara's selective enforcement opening the floodgates for leverage has fuelled Europe's illegal immigration woes. A security partner shouldn't wield your weaknesses as a weapon, yet here we are.

What about Ukraine then? Turkey's stance is a masterclass in ambivalence. While it sells drones to Kyiv, Ankara refuses to join the EU's sanctions on Russia. This isn't principled neutrality, but opportunism. Contrast this with the EU's firm stand against Russian aggression, and you see a gap very difficult to bridge. A security partner must share your enemies, not flirt with them.

Consider, too, the latest crackdown shaking Turkey's faade of democracy. Turkish police have just arrested Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, Erdogan's most formidable rival, on charges of corruption and alleged terrorist ties, effectively barring him from the presidential race. The rule of law in Turkey is a hollow shell, hardly the mark of a stable ally the EU can lean on in times of crisis.

None of this is to say Turkey lacks strengths. Its military is powerful, its location unmatched, its diplomacy outstanding and its industrial capabilities robust. But strengths don't make a partner trust does. And trust is precisely what Ankara has spent decades eroding, from Cyprus to Syria, from the Mediterranean to the migrant routes and beyond.

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Not a minor scene:

Turkey on boil!

Protest erupts after arrest of #Istanbul Mayor Imamoglu arrested over corruption, terror links

Demanding #Erdogan's resignation, people of all ages defied a government ban on public gatherings | @ShreyaOpines pic.twitter.com/TDQpHP6uJg

— Mirror Now (@MirrorNow) March 23, 2025

#TurkeyWatch🇹🇷: Turkish police detained 343 people at protests in Istanbul, Ankara, and 7 other cities.

Following the detention of Ekrem İmamoğlu, Erdoğan’s primary challenger, protests RAGE nationwide.

PRES. ERDOĞAN = NO OPPOSITION = NO PROBLEM.pic.twitter.com/IDG3zxGO0x

— Steve Hanke (@steve_hanke) March 22, 2025

This could have a huge impact on both Ukraine and Syria, and of course Europe.

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In May, I am supposed to be on a flight with a 13 hour overnight layover/connection in Istanbul (which is still Constantinople btw).
I was going to go take picture of the Hagia, which we will reconquer one day, while I was there.

Wondering if I will need to avoid and re-route.......

Erdogan now blaming the protesters for the problem he created in the first place.

"I believe that if [the opposition] has any respect left, they will be ashamed of the evil they have done to the country," he says.

STUCK

This is real. Not AI.

Pikachu running from Turkish riot police together with other anti-Erdogan protesters

🇹🇷🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/L9ZJxVQHLT

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) March 27, 2025

Having been quick on his tiny little feet last night, Pikachu managed to evade arrest and is back on streets tonight to lead the anti-Erdogan protests.

The crowd will go wherever Pikachu tells them to go.

🇹🇷🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/ZikdIlAbLr

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) March 27, 2025