Protests Over Istanbul Mayor’s Arrest Spark One-Day Shopping Boycott
Demonstrations that broke out throughout Turkey after the detention of Istanbul’s opposition mayor, Ekram İmamoğlu, have escalated into calls for a 24-hour shopping strike.
The student organizations responsible for the request also encouraged companies to close down operations on Wednesday.
Massive demonstrations against the government commenced the previous month following the imprisonment of İmamoğlu, who is considered the primary rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's 22-year leadership.
Imamoglu faces allegations of corruption and terrorism, which critics argue are politically driven. However, the government maintains that the judicial system operates independently without political influence.
İmamoğlu's party - the Republican People's Party (CHP) – publicly supported the call for a commercial boycott.
"Everyone is encouraged to participate in this boycott and utilize the influence derived from spending," stated CHP party leader Özgür Özel in a social media post.
Previously, Özel had urged individuals to boycott companies that he alleges support the government, with particular emphasis on media organizations that chose not to broadcast footage of the massive protests where hundreds of thousands of Turks took to the streets demanding İmamoğlu’s release and an end to democratic regression.
The student-led boycott garnered an immediate reaction from the authorities.
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya labeled it as "sabotage" and termed it an attempted coup against our economy, whereas Trade Minister Omer Bolat stated that businesses experiencing financial harm due to this could seek compensation from those instigating the boycott.
Bolat shared photos of his shopping trip on social media, accompanied by remarks indicating it was a "day for supporting the national economy."
The leader of Turkey's broadcasting regulatory body (RTÜK) mentioned potential measures against news outlets that promoted the boycott.
A week ago, authorities imposed a 10-day broadcast suspension on an opposition channel along with penalties and program halts for several others.
The Istanbul Chief Prosecutor's Office has initiated a criminal investigation into the calls for an opposition boycott as well.
Imamoğlu, in a social media post from the prison where he has been detained since March 23rd, alleged that European politicians have begun severing connections with Turkey.
The European Commission decided against participating in the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, and European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos announced the cancellation of her scheduled meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.
While incarcerated, İmamoğlu was officially named the CHP's presidential nominee in an election presently set for 2028 but expected to occur sooner.
As reported by the independent ANKA News Agency, approximately 2,000 individuals have been detained since İmamoğlu’s arrest on March 19th, including 316 who remain imprisoned awaiting their trials.
Many of them face charges related to involvement in demonstrations.