Turkey has arrested more than 1,100 individuals, including 10 journalists, reportedly taken into custody on Monday morning, following widespread protests that began on March 19 after the arrest of Istanbul’s popular Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. Imamoglu was seen as a significant challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the upcoming elections. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced on Monday that 1,133 people were detained for “illegal activities” during the protests, which authorities prohibited last week.

Despite the Turkish government’s claims that Imamoglu’s arrest was unrelated to his political stance, the crackdown on dissent has raised alarm both domestically and internationally regarding the decline of democracy under Erdogan’s leadership, which has led the country for more than 20 years.

What is happening in Turkey?

The Turkish journalists’ group MLSA announced that 10 journalists were arrested at their residences on Monday morning, among them a photographer from the French news agency AFP. The organization stated that these people were arrested “for covering the protests,” particularly the significant demonstrations happening every day outside City Hall. Dilek Kaya Imamoglu, the spouse of the imprisoned mayor of Istanbul, voiced her worries on social media, saying, “The treatment of journalists and press members is a freedom issue. We cannot remain silent about this.”

On Sunday, the trend of widespread arrests continued in violation of the official ban, as a local court sentenced Ekrem Imamoglu to imprisonment on corruption charges while he awaits trial. His supporters have denounced this move as an attempt to suppress dissent” in the country. Furthermore, Imamoglu faces allegations of terrorism support, with officials citing his connections to pro-Kurdish groups during the local elections held last year.

Since his arrest, major cities like Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir have experienced protests that have brought tens of thousands of people to the streets, marking the largest wave of unrest in Turkey since the Gezi Park protests in 2013. Over the weekend, police employed water cannons and tear gas to break up mostly youthful crowds.

Imamoglu was taken into custody just days before he was anticipated to win a primary election to become the presidential candidate for the main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party. He was one of 100 individuals detained during an investigation on Wednesday, which included other politicians, journalists, and business leaders.

He previously defeated candidates from Erdogan’s party in three local elections to secure the mayor’s position. Erdogan began his political journey as the mayor of Istanbul, a city with 16 million residents that is often seen as a reflection of Turkey’s political and social landscape.

In a social media post, Imamoglu expressed that his incarceration was “not a judicial process” but rather “an extrajudicial punishment,” urging his supporters to “join the fight for [their] rights.”

Officials from the Erdogan administration have consistently asserted that it is “incorrect” to label the charges against Imamoglu as politically motivated. Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc has underscored the importance of “the independence of the judiciary” in Turkey.

Many of the people who answered Imamoglu’s invitation for peaceful protests were university students and young individuals. They have been waving Turkish flags and holding up signs with strong messages that criticize Erdogan and his administration.

A 26-year-old nurse, who preferred to remain anonymous and partially concealed her face with a scarf, expressed that she participated in the protest to “secure her future.” She described Imamoglu’s imprisonment as “a wakeup call,” stating, “those who are anxious about their future have come together here.”

“We are no longer afraid,” she remarked, even though she harbored concerns about the possibility of being exposed to tear gas due to her asthma.

Another woman of the same age, currently without a job, shared similar feelings, indicating that her participation was not only to advocate for Imamoglu’s release but also to assert “my rights.” others pointed to financial difficulties as their reason for participating in the protests. One retiree shared her difficulties in managing her expenses and urged Erdogan to step down.

“My 17-year-old son sees no future in this country,” she said. “I am here for him.”

Even though Imamoglu is in prison, the primary election for the CHP’s presidential nomination went ahead as scheduled, with him as the only candidate. The CHP reported that he received more than 13 million votes from symbolic ballot boxes set up across Turkey, which acted as a protest against the government and showed that many people supported him. If Imamoglu manages to prove his innocence regarding the corruption and terrorism charges in Turkey’s courts, he will still face more obstacles in his quest for the presidency, especially from Erdogan. Just one day before his arrest, Istanbul University, where he studied, took away his diploma. According to Turkish law, having a university degree is necessary to run for president.

International reaction to Imamoglu’s arrest in Turkey

European nations have shown significant dissatisfaction with the clear suppression of opposition in Turkey. The European Union, which Turkey has been trying to join for more than two decades, warned that Ankara needs to demonstrate “a clear commitment to democratic norms.”

Turkey’s efforts to join the EU have been stalled for at least the last nine years, as the union cites previous crackdowns on dissent and various worries about the decline of freedoms and democratic institutions as major hurdles to Turkey’s membership. Reacting, France’s foreign ministry described Imamoglu’s arrest and the widespread detentions as a “serious attack on democracy,” with both Germany and Greece also condemning these actions.

The Trump administration has largely stayed quiet about the protests following Imamoglu’s arrest, considering it an “internal legal” matter for Turkey. However, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce told reporters on Friday that the U.S. government is keeping an eye on the situation, “including the reported detention of the Istanbul mayor and a large number of municipal employees, journalists, and other individuals.

“The State Department will seek the Turkish government’s perspective on domestic judicial matters.” Bruce stressed that Turkish officials must protect each citizen’s freedoms and human rights in line with the country’s constitution, our shared values, and democratic principles.