In the heart of Istanbul, a remarkable transformation is underway. What began as student protests following the politically motivated arrest of Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu has evolved into Turkey’s most significant pro-democracy mobilisation in years. The streets that once pulsed with the routine of daily life now throb with the energy of millions demanding a return to democratic governance.
The timing of İmamoğlu’s arrest – just a couple of weeks after he announced his presidential candidacy – betrayed the political calculation behind it. It was the latest effort by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to use judicial means to eliminate potential challengers. But this time, the response caught him off guard.
Generation Z is the vanguard of this movement. Young people who’ve known only Erdoğan’s increasingly authoritarian rule are now at the forefront of resistance. Their rallying cries – ‘This is just the beginning’ and ‘No salvation alone’ – signal something deeper than conventional political opposition. They seek not just a change of leadership but a fundamental reconstruction of Turkey’s democratic institutions.
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