Mass Protest in Ankara Over Opposition Court Case
Tens of thousands gather in Türkiye’s capital as court decision looms over CHP leadership and future of main opposition.
ANKARA – Tens of thousands of people rallied in the Turkish capital on Sunday against a court case that could unseat Özgür Özel, leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP).
The case, set for a ruling on Monday, will determine whether to invalidate the CHP’s 2023 congress over alleged procedural flaws. A decision could reshape the party and influence the country’s political trajectory ahead of elections scheduled for 2028.
Protesters waved Turkish flags and party banners, chanting against the government. Özel, addressing the crowd, called the case political and urged for a snap general election.
Over the past year, more than 500 people, including 17 opposition mayors, have been detained in corruption and terrorism-related investigations. Among them is Istanbul’s mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, arrested in March, whose imprisonment sparked Türkiye’s largest protests in a decade.
In a letter read at the rally, İmamoğlu accused the government of using judicial measures to suppress political rivals, while pledging a future of collective leadership.
The government has rejected accusations of interference, stressing that the judiciary operates independently.
