Turkey's Crackdown: A Threat to Democracy and Free Speech

The recent events in Türkiye, marked by the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and the subsequent crackdown on peaceful protests, represent a grave threat to the country's democratic institutions and the fundamental rights of its citizens. The government's actions, which include the use of excessive force against protesters, the targeting of journalists, and the imposition of blanket bans on protests, have sparked international condemnation and raised serious concerns about the future of freedom of speech and human rights in the country.

The detention of İmamoğlu, who was nominated as the main opposition candidate for the 2028 presidential election, has been widely seen as a politically motivated move to eliminate a key rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The charges of corruption and aiding terrorism, which have been levelled against İmamoğlu and other political figures, lack credibility and have been dismissed by opposition parties, rights groups, and Western powers as a politicised effort to eliminate a potential electoral threat.

The protests that have erupted in response to İmamoğlu's detention have been met with unwarranted and unlawful use of police force. According to the Minister of Interior, as of 26 March, 1879 people were detained during the protests. Law enforcement officials have used batons, pepper spray, tear gas, plastic bullets, and water cannons against protesters, causing numerous injuries. The Minister also reported that 150 police officers were injured during the protests, but did not provide information on the number of protesters who were injured.

The repression of peaceful protests in Türkiye is not limited to the use of force. Blanket bans on protests have been in place in Istanbul since 19 March, and in İzmir and Ankara since 21 March. The Governor of Istanbul also issued a decision stating that individuals, groups, and vehicles likely to participate in illegal activities would not be allowed to enter or exit the city. This decision, which is unclear in its enforcement, represents a further erosion of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly.

The crackdown on mass protests has also been accompanied by intensified attacks and pressure on independent media and journalists. At least 11 local journalists were detained in Istanbul and Izmir due to their reporting of the protests, with seven of them remanded in detention on 25 March for allegedly violating the Law on Meetings and Demonstrations. At least 10 local journalists were physically assaulted by the police while covering the protests on the ground in Istanbul, and one journalist was reportedly assaulted by protesters.

The international media have also been caught up in the crackdown. The BBC reported on 27 March that its correspondent Mark Lowen, who was in Istanbul to cover the protests, was detained at his hotel and later deported on the grounds that he was a ‘threat to public order’. Reporting on the events is also restricted by Türkiye’s Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK), which has urged broadcast media to ensure their reporting remains free from political bias, warning that failure to do so would result in maximum penalties, including the revocation of their licenses.

The crackdown on mass protests and the targeting of journalists and media outlets in Türkiye have been widely condemned by international human rights and media freedom groups. ARTICLE 19 and 14 other organizations have called on the Turkish government to immediately cease its attacks against peaceful protesters, stop targeting journalists and news channels, and halt its crackdown on online speech. They have also urged social media companies to take immediate steps to restore access to blocked accounts containing protected speech while implementing necessary measures to ensure continued accessibility of their platforms.

The government's actions in Türkiye represent a grave threat to the country's democratic institutions and the fundamental rights of its citizens. The use of excessive force against peaceful protesters, the targeting of journalists, and the imposition of blanket bans on protests are all violations of international human rights law. The government must immediately cease its attacks against peaceful protesters, stop targeting journalists and news channels, and halt its crackdown on online speech. Social media companies must also resist government pressure to censor content and take immediate steps to restore access to blocked accounts containing protected speech.

The future of democracy and free speech in Türkiye hangs in the balance. The government's actions have sparked international condemnation and raised serious concerns about the future of human rights in the country. The international community must stand in solidarity with the people of Türkiye and demand that the government respect the fundamental rights of its citizens. The world must choose: cooperation or collapse.