Turkey's president accused of silencing opposition
Erdogan's critics warn he is dismantling human rights and crushing dissent, using courts as a tool to muzzle opponents ahead of the next elections.
When a 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck Istanbul on 23 April, the city’s mayor could not help: Ekrem Imamoglu was behind bars in Silivri prison …
Imamoglu, elected in 2019, was detained on corruption charges he calls “Kafkaesque.” His supporters say his real offence is posing a threat to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ahead of the 2028 ballot.
Critics argue Erdogan has shifted from reformer to autocrat, eroding rights and targeting dissent. Over 500 members of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) have faced arrest since October.
The crackdown intensifies
Prosecutors allege the CHP leaders engaged in bribery, tender rigging and terrorist links. The party denies this, viewing the actions as politically motivated silencing.
Locking up Imamoglu, who was about to become the party’s presidential candidate, ignited the largest protests in a decade. Young people, known as Generation Erdogan, flooded the streets despite bans and police force.
Justice under suspicion
Human Rights Watch warns of a politicised judiciary, with judges and prosecutors following government directives. Simple online critiques now risk detention, say analysts.
Geopolitical leverage
Erdogan’s international standing – friendly with Putin, Zelensky and Trump – gives him leeway. He brokered Ukraine’s grain deal and hosted top-level talks, positioning Turkey as a bridge between continents.
Democracy at a crossroads
While elections remain formally free, the media landscape favours the government and opposition figures face intense pressure. President Erdogan’s two-term limit opens debates on early polls or constitutional changes.
As Erdogan approaches 2028 polls, Turkey’s democracy hangs in balance, with many fearing the sanctity of the ballot is under siege.
Erdogan’s consolidation of power, through legal and political means, raises concerns that Turkey’s democracy is steadily eroding while global attention remains elsewhere.
This topic was reported by BBC News.
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