Demand for change in Turkey cannot be stopped, says jailed Istanbul mayor

Demand for Change in Turkey Cannot Be Stopped

Support for the opposition in Turkey is growing, as people increasingly lose patience with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s leadership. Ekrem Imamoglu, the jailed Istanbul mayor, has stated that the demand for change is unstoppable and that political efforts to suppress the opposition will not succeed. His comments were made in a written response from his prison cell in Silivri, west of Istanbul, in anticipation of his trial on corruption charges, which critics argue are designed to prevent him from challenging Erdogan in the next election. Imamoglu’s arrest last year led to major protests and has been followed by escalating legal actions against the main opposition CHP party, of which he is the presidential candidate. Over 15 CHP mayors are currently in jail, highlighting the ongoing legal pressure on the opposition.