Tens of Thousands Protest in Ankara Against Legal Crackdown on Turkish Opposition

Tens of thousands of people gathered in Turkey’s capital, Ankara, on Sunday to protest a mounting legal crackdown on the country’s main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP). The demonstration came on the eve of a crucial court ruling that could oust the CHP’s leader, Özgür Özel, by invalidating the party’s 2023 congress over alleged procedural irregularities.

Live footage from Ankara showed huge crowds waving Turkish flags and CHP banners while chanting slogans demanding the resignation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Many protesters said they feared the government was using the judiciary to eliminate political competition and cement its hold on power.

Opposition Leader Calls Case a “Coup”

Speaking at the rally, CHP leader Özel accused the government of undermining democracy by weaponizing the courts against its rivals. He described the case against his party as politically motivated and warned that it was part of a broader attempt to silence dissent following the opposition’s victories in recent local elections.

“This case is political. The accusations are slander. Our comrades are innocent,” Özel declared. “What’s being done is a coup — a coup against the future president, against the future government. We will resist, we will resist, we will resist.”

Özel also demanded a snap general election, arguing that Erdoğan’s government had lost legitimacy by targeting opposition leaders instead of addressing the country’s political and economic challenges.

Crackdown on Opposition Intensifies

Over the past year, Turkish authorities have detained more than 500 people, including 17 mayors from CHP-run municipalities, as part of sweeping corruption investigations, according to a Reuters review. Hundreds of CHP members remain jailed pending trial in a sprawling probe alleging corruption and terrorism links.

Among those detained is Istanbul’s mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu — widely regarded as Erdoğan’s most serious political rival. İmamoğlu’s arrest in March triggered the largest protests in Turkey in a decade, with hundreds of thousands taking to the streets. The unrest also sparked a brief but sharp sell-off in the Turkish lira and other assets, reflecting investor concerns about political instability.

İmamoğlu’s Message From Prison

During Sunday’s rally, a letter from İmamoğlu was read aloud to the crowd. In it, he accused the government of trying to manipulate the outcome of the next general election, scheduled for 2028, by sidelining legitimate rivals.

“The government is attempting to predetermine the election by using the judiciary as a political tool,” he wrote. “The era of ‘I’ in this country will end, and the era of ‘we’ will begin. One person will lose, and everyone else will win.”

The crowd erupted in applause after the letter was read, chanting “President İmamoğlu” in defiance of the government crackdown.

What Comes Next

The court’s decision on whether to annul the CHP’s 2023 congress is expected Monday. Analysts warn the ruling could reshape the future of Turkey’s largest opposition party, further polarize the political climate, and affect financial markets. The court may also delay its decision, prolonging uncertainty.

While the government insists that the judiciary is independent and denies political interference, critics argue that Erdoğan is tightening his grip by systematically dismantling the opposition. With calls for early elections growing louder, Sunday’s mass protest signals that Turkey’s political crisis is far from over.