In brief
Istanbul's mayor's arrest triggers protests, revealing a burgeoning wave of political activism.
Turkey is witnessing a surge in political activism following the arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu, the Istanbul mayor and chief opponent of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The country’s major opposition party has called for rallies and boycotts against businesses aligned with the government. Universities are active hubs for organizing protests, allowing students to share strategies on how to deal with police and tear gas.The protests are the most significant in more than a decade and appear to be energizing a diverse range of supporters. "The fire is already lit," says Irem Tacyildiz, a 24-year-old economics major involved in the demonstrations. Despite heavy-handed government responses aimed at stifling dissent, the commitment to resist has only grown stronger.Mr. Imamoglu, ousted from his position and currently in jail facing corruption charges, has nonetheless been nominated by his party to run in the upcoming presidential election. However, the future of the opposition's movement is uncertain as questions loom about its long-term effectiveness against Erdogan's entrenched authority.
