Bishop Bizzeti Analyzes Rising Authoritarianism in East and West

Turkey on Edge: Istanbul Mayor’s Arrest Sparks Protests and Raises Concerns About democracy

By archyde News – March 21, 2025

The arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu has ignited protests and amplified fears about the state of democracy in Turkey, drawing parallels to authoritarian trends observed globally.

Imamoglu’s Arrest: A Flashpoint for Turkish Politics

Last Tuesday, Ekrem İmamoğlu, a prominent opposition figure and potential challenger to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the upcoming 2028 elections, was arrested. The charges: corruption and alleged ties to terrorist organizations. The arrest promptly triggered widespread protests, with hundreds taking to the streets in Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir.This action is viewed by many, like an anonymous diplomatic source who spoke to *AsiaNews*, as an attempt to sideline a strong political opponent, someone “strong, well prepared, a man who has proven to be a capable administrator.” The source added, “This is perhaps why he is causing great fear in the other camp.”

These events are occurring against a backdrop where President Erdoğan’s ruling justice and Growth Party (AKP) has seen some slippage in support, notably in major cities. The situation has raised concerns both domestically and internationally about the fairness of the electoral process and the independence of the Turkish judiciary.

To contextualize this for a U.S. audience, imagine if a popular governor, seen as a potential presidential contender, was suddenly arrested on what many considered politically motivated charges. It woudl immediately raise alarms about the integrity of the democratic process. It recalls the intense political polarization seen in the US, e.g., the aftermath of the 2020 election or the investigations and indictments of various political figures.Such events fuel partisan division, erode public trust, and call the impartiality of the justice system into question.

Protests and Crackdowns: Echoes of Past Unrest

The protests that erupted following İmamoğlu’s arrest were met with a swift and forceful response from Turkish authorities.Security forces cordoned off key public spaces like Taksim Square and Gezi Park in Istanbul, sites that hold symbolic weight due to past instances of violent repression. Reports indicate clashes between protesters and law enforcement, leading to further arrests.

Bishop paolo Bizzeti,Apostolic Vicar of Anatolia,voiced his concerns: “It is hard to predict what will happen to İmamoğlu in the immediate future,whether he will remain in prison or be released,because one cannot make predictions in places where,in Turkey as in many other countries,including Italy,politicians want to ‘guide’ justice.”

The government’s response has been criticized as an overreach, stifling dissent and further polarizing Turkish society. The situation is reminiscent of past crackdowns on protests in Turkey, raising fears about the erosion of civil liberties and freedom of expression.

Erdoğan’s Silence and the Future of Turkish Politics

Amidst the turmoil, President Erdoğan has remained notably silent on the İmamoğlu affair. This silence has fueled speculation about his potential involvement and motives, especially given İmamoğlu’s status as a potential rival. Some analysts believe that Erdoğan might be attempting to clear the field for his own re-election, despite term limits that should prevent him from running again in 2028. There is a theory suggesting Erdoğan may push for fresh elections or even constitutional changes to extend his time in power.

Adding complexity to the situation, prior to his arrest, İmamoğlu faced attempts to disqualify him from running for office, including allegations of a “fake degree.” To run for president in Turkey, candidates must hold a university degree. The anonymous source stated someone close to AsiaNews stated, ““Before his arrest, attempts were made to exclude him from the election, the latest being the “fake degree” affair. To run for president, candidates must be university graduates. In fact, as soon as someone comes close to being politically competitive, he is marginalised, including many mayors, removed on specious accusations, despite being voted in by the people.”

The Imamoglu arrest raises basic questions. The diplomatic source asked, “real democratic process or not?”

Global Implications and the Rise of Authoritarianism

The events in Turkey are not isolated but reflect a broader global trend towards authoritarianism. Bishop Bizzeti argues, “What is happening in Turkey is part of a wider worldwide trend, and cannot be isolated from the global context.” He added, “There are reasons for concern in the West. It seems that the age of bullies is back, and what saddens the most is people willing to use every means to eliminate rivals are prevailing. Think of how many UN resolutions Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ignored, even in recent months. We are witness to an authoritarian interpretation of power.”

He continues, noting the repercussions of aggression, wich can act as a domestic tool for silencing dissent and a foreign tool for attacking sovereign countries. He references Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as an exmaple.

The central question, according to Bishop Bizzeti, revolves around whether a genuine democratic process exists, particularly in a world grappling with economic, political, and social crises. For a US audience, the turkish example reflects a broader question: how do democracies safeguard their institutions from internal erosion?

Key Actors and Their Roles

Actor	Role	Potential Impact
Ekrem İmamoğlu	Mayor of Istanbul, potential presidential challenger	His fate will significantly influence the political landscape and the opposition’s chances in future elections.
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan	President of Turkey	His actions will determine the future of turkish democracy and the country’s international standing.
Turkish Judiciary	Legal system	Its independence and impartiality are crucial to ensuring a fair and democratic process.
Turkish Citizens	General population	Their participation in protests and elections will shape the country’s future.

Protest and Fear: A Society Divided

One of the most concerning aspects of the current situation is the apparent resignation of a important portion of the Turkish population. The original article indicates “the resignation in a large part of the population, which no longer takes to the streets to protest, and the proliferation of unscrupulous characters who rule ignoring laws and rights.” While hundreds, perhaps thousands, have protested İmamoğlu’s arrest, the widespread fear of repercussions – being photographed, blacklisted, and possibly jailed – is palpable.

Looking Ahead: Uncertainty and Dissatisfaction

The future of Turkey remains uncertain. “it is very complicated to make predictions,” the source told *AsiaNews*. There is growing dissatisfaction with the status quo, even among previous supporters of the AKP. “the last elections when the ruling Justice and Development Party( AKP) lost significant cities and a great number of voters. Support for Erdoğan is slipping and recent elections are proof of that.” The coming months will be critical in determining whether turkey can maintain its democratic institutions or succumb to authoritarian pressures.

To what extent does the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu signal a concerning shift towards authoritarianism in Turkey?

Turkey’s Political Crisis: An Interview with Dr.Leyla Demir

Introduction

Archyde News: Welcome, Dr. Demir. Thank you for joining us today. For our viewers, Dr. Leyla Demir is a political analyst specializing in Turkish politics and the broader implications of global authoritarian trends.We’re here to discuss the recent arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and the escalating tensions in Turkey. Dr. Demir, can you give us a brief overview of the situation?

Imamoglu’s Arrest and its Implications

Dr. demir: Certainly. The arrest of İmamoğlu, a prominent opposition figure, is a critical moment.He was seen as a potential challenger to President Erdoğan. The charges of corruption and alleged ties to terrorist organizations are concerning, especially given the protests and the forceful response from the authorities.It mirrors patterns we’ve seen elsewhere, where political rivals face such accusations.

Concerns About Democracy

Archyde News: The article mentions concerns about the fairness of the electoral process and the independence of the judiciary. How significant are these concerns, in your view?

Dr. Demir: They’re paramount. The allegations of a “fake degree” against İmamoğlu before his arrest show that the ruling party does not intend for him to run for president. The fact that key public spaces like Taksim Square and Gezi Park were cordoned off and reports of clashes between protestors and law enforcement create fear and intimidation, directly affecting the democratic process.The judiciary’s impartiality is key,but there are doubts. The big question is whether a real democratic process exists in Turkey.

Erdoğan’s Role and Future Prospects

Archyde News: President Erdoğan’s silence has been noted. What are your thoughts on his role in this situation and the potential outcomes?

Dr. Demir: His silence is telling. It has fueled speculation. Some analysts think that he might be attempting to clear the field for his re-election, even though he is term-limited.He may attempt to change the Constitution and/or push for early elections.The coming months will determine whether Turkey can maintain its democratic institutions.

Global Context and Authoritarianism

Archyde news: The article connects these events to broader global trends toward authoritarianism. Do you agree, and if so, how?

Dr. Demir: Absolutely.What is happening in Turkey is not isolated. Recent events reflect a global trend, a pattern witnessed in other countries, of leaders using any means necessary to eliminate their rivals. This includes aggression and silencing the opposition. There are ancient parallels; we are witnessing an authoritarian interpretation of power.

The Society and Fear

Archyde News: The article highlights the resignation and fear among a significant portion of the population. Can you describe the impact of this fear?

Dr. Demir: The repercussions are significant. Fear discourages dissent and makes it very challenging to criticize the government openly; widespread fear is palpable. The absence of public protest is also felt.

Looking Ahead: A Path Forward

Archyde News: Dr. Demir, what are the potential paths forward for Turkey, and what are the major challenges?

Dr. Demir: The main obstacle is the erosion of democratic institutions. The Turkish judiciary is a key actor.The government’s response has been criticized as an overreach. The situation is reminiscent for past crackdowns on protests in Turkey, raising fears about the erosion of civil liberties. Political polarization, both internally and externally, complicates the situation.The population’s participation, through protests and in elections, will shape the country’s future. The future is uncertain.

concluding Thoughts

archyde News: Thank you, Dr. Demir, for providing such insightful analysis. It is a very complex situation, and thanks for giving some clarity about the possible outcomes. To our viewers, what are your thoughts on the events unfolding in Turkey? Share your comments below. We’d like to hear your perspectives.