Turkey There is an atmosphere of political upheaval these days. The anger of opposition leaders and general public against President Recep Tayip Erdogan is constantly increasing. The custody of Istanbul Mayor Ekram Imamoglu has done ghee in this fire. This matter is no longer limited to Türkiye, but European leaders have also started interfering in it. Dutch leader Girte Wilders have strongly criticized his policies, calling Erdogan a “Islamic dictator”.
Criticism of European leaders against Erdogan
Dutch leader Girte Wilders lashed out at Erdogan, sharing a post of CNN on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). He wrote, “This is an Islamic dictator who is persecuting his own people. He is putting them in jail. The people of Türkiye deserve far better than this dangerous fool.” This statement of Wilders reflects the increasing concern of European leaders on the ongoing political crisis in Türkiye.
Imamoglu’s custody increased fire
Istanbul Mayor Acram Imamoglu, who is considered the leading rival of President Erdogan, was recently detained on allegations of corruption and terrorism. The step was taken when preparations were being made to hold primary elections by the main opposition party Republican People’s Party (CHP). Imamoglu was expected to be elected presidential candidate, but his arrest suddenly stopped the process.
According to the state-run news agency Anadolu, orders were issued to detain around 100 others along with Imamoglu. These include prominent leaders like his press advisor Murat Ongun, Elected Mayor of Istanbul district, Rasul Emraha Sahan and Murat Kalik.
Opposition accused of dictatorship
The opposition party CHP has termed Imamoglu’s arrest as a dictatorship of the Erdogan government. Party leader Ozgur Ozel called it an “attempt to”. He said, “Taking the main leaders into custody is a conspiracy against our next President. It is an attempt to crush the public will.”
Imamoglu released a video message before his arrest, in which he accused the government of suppressing the voice of the public. He said, “I am sad to say that a handful of people are trying to steal the wishes of the public. They have sent the police and security forces to involve this wrongdoing.” In this video, Imamoglu appeared wearing clothes in a small closet.
Increasing dissatisfaction in Türkiye
Dissatisfaction against the Government of Erdogan in Türkiye is continuously increasing. The arrest of opposition leaders and the actions of the government have also angered the general public. Demonstrations are taking place in Istanbul and other cities, where people are shouting slogans against the policies of the government.
Meanwhile, the European Union has also expressed concern over the condition of human rights in Türkiye. Many European leaders have appealed to the Erdogan government to release opposition leaders and respect the democratic process.
What is the path ahead?
This political crisis in Türkiye has now become a subject of international discussion. The steps of the Erdogan government have damaged their image not only inside the country but also abroad. The arrest of opposition leaders and criticism of European leaders have put Erdogan in a difficult situation.
Now the question is whether the Erdogan government will be able to recover from this crisis? Will opposition leaders be released and democratic process will be restored? Or will political upheaval grow in Türkiye? The answers to these questions are expected to be found in the next few days.
This story of Türkiye is a lesson not only for that country but for the whole world. This shows how important the protection of democracy and human rights is. It remains to be seen how the people of Turkish and international communities deal with this crisis.
