ISTANBUL, Turkey – Turkish authorities have detained 11 individuals suspected of spreading calls for a one-day shopping boycott as part of ongoing protests against the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. The detentions followed a call by main opposition leader Ozgur Ozel for a larger boycott of businesses perceived to have ties to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government.
Imamoglu, widely regarded as Erdogan's main political rival, was arrested in March on corruption charges, which he denies. His detention has sparked widespread protests across Turkey, unseen since 2013, and has intensified political tensions in the country.
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office issued warrants for 16 suspects as part of an investigation into allegations of "hatred and discrimination" and "inciting hatred and hostility" among the public. Those detained include actor Cem Yiğit Üzümoğlu, known for his role in the Netflix series "Rise of Empires: Ottoman," according to the Turkish Actors' Union.
The boycott campaign was supported by university students and Imamoglu's party, the Republican People's Party (CHP), which has been critical of the government's actions. The CHP had initially called for a boycott of pro-government businesses and media outlets, which was later expanded to include a one-day shopping halt.
The Turkish government condemned the boycott as an attempt to destabilize the economy, with ministers posting photos of themselves shopping to counter the initiative. Trade Minister Omer Bolat warned that such efforts could jeopardize economic stability and accused proponents of attempting to disrupt the government.
Turkey's economy has been under pressure due to high inflation and currency instability, with March's inflation rate recorded at 38.1%. Some business owners reported a significant decline in customer numbers following the boycott announcement, while others defended the action as a necessary form of protest.
The situation highlights the growing tensions between the government and opposition in Turkey, with Imamoglu's arrest seen by many as a politically motivated move to weaken the opposition ahead of potential elections. The international community has also taken notice, with European politicians expressing concern over Turkey's democratic trajectory.
In a statement from prison, Imamoglu claimed that European politicians had begun to cut ties with Turkey, citing the cancellation of the European Commission's participation in the Antalya Diplomacy Forum. Despite these challenges, Imamoglu was confirmed as the CHP's presidential candidate, potentially setting the stage for a significant political showdown in the future.
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References:
- Deutsche Welle. (2025). Turkey detains 11 people for pro-government business boycott calls.
- AP News. (2025). Turkey makes 11 arrests over shopping-boycott campaign in support of Istanbul's imprisoned mayor.
- Euronews. (2025). Eleven people detained in Turkey as part of investigation into boycott call.
- Reuters. (2025). Turkish police detain 11 over opposition-led economic boycott.
- Turkish Minute. (2025). UPDATE: Actor among 11 detained in Turkey for promoting opposition-led boycott.
- Reuters. (2025). Turkey denounces opposition calls for a day of no shopping.
- Turkish Minute. (2025). Turkish prosecutors investigate calls for economic boycott over mayor's arrest.
- Euronews. (2025). Protests against Istanbul mayor's arrest morph into one-day shopping boycott.
- Courthouse News. (2025). Turkey makes 11 arrests over shopping-boycott campaign in support of Istanbul's imprisoned mayor.