Mass Protests Erupt in Turkey—Biggest Since Gezi Park

Student-led protests in Turkey over Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu’s arrest have escalated into a nationwide uprising against President Erdoğan’s government. Thousands are taking to the streets defying police barricades and a protest ban. Just days before İmamoğlu was set to be chosen as the main opposition’s presidential candidate, his university diploma was revoked, effectively barring him from running against Erdoğan. The next morning, police raided his home at dawn, detaining him on corruption and terrorism charges—accusations he strongly denies. Istanbul University students broke through police barricades to protest the university’s role in what they see as a politically motivated move. Their defiance sparked demonstrations on campuses across the country. But students say they’re not just marching for İmamoğlu—they’re fighting for their future. Struggling to afford even basic needs like rent and food, many see the government’s growing crackdown on the opposition as the final straw. For the fourth consecutive day, protests continue nationwide, marking Turkey’s largest anti-government demonstrations since the Gezi Park uprising of 2013. Despite President Erdoğan’s warnings of a crackdown on what he calls “street terror,” thousands remain in the streets, refusing to back down. #TurkeyProtests #Ekremİmamoğlu 👾 Fayn, bağımsız bir dijital haber ve hikâye anlatıcılığı stüdyosu. 🌍 We're an independent digital news & multimedia storytelling studio from Istanbul. Fayn'a abone olun ► https://bit.ly/3CzQvkT Instagram'da Fayn ► https://instagram.com/faynstudio Twitter'da Fayn ► https://twitter.com/faynstudio Discord ► https://discord.gg/4TPh9r