Dr Balki Begum Bayhan

Turkey's main opposition party is now getting the same treatment as its Kurdish-majority opposition party has been getting since 2016

As a fourth wave of arrests hit #Istanbul's Metropolitan Municipality yesterday, a non-exhaustive timeline of the operation against Istanbul mayor Ekrem #Imamoglu. I chose the end of 2024 as the starting date, but as early as 2019-2020, Imamoglu is already overwhelmed by investigations.

Turkey has blocked access to the X account of imprisoned Istanlbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu due to reasons of national security and public order.

Seems Elon Musk's X once again complies with AKP's efforts to restrict freedom of expression

X blocked access to İstanbul's mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu’s account within Turkey following a court order.

Beautiful moments from today’s rally. Thousands used their phones to illuminate the area as lighting devices were not allowed to be taken into the square.

Yes! They didn’t allow them to bring lighting devices into the area.

CHP continues to hold district rallies in #İstanbul every Wednesday. Scenes from today’s gathering in Beyazıt:

Istanbul University has officially cancelled İmamoğlu's degree, rendering him ineligible to stand as president. Future historians may rue this day as they struggle to distinguish between references to presidents Özal and Özel (and maybe even Özil?)

National suicide

This is so so so so so so stupid. Just utterly baffled why this party is completely unwilling to listen to all the experts going “there’s no way this will work”

#CANLI Alanya, 16.55 (Ben görüntülüyorum efendim) 1 Mayıs korteji yürüyüşe geçti

Scenes from #İstanbul’s May Day gathering taking place in Kadıköy.

Progressive Lawyers’ Association reports that more than 400 people who wanted to go to Taksim for May Day celebrations were detained.

Students in #Ankara march towards Tandoğan for the May Day celebrations

Swedish journalist sentenced in Turkey for ‘insulting Erdoğan’ Joakim Medin given suspended sentence over photos on his articles, but remains in jail awaiting trial on terror charge

We condemn the suspended 11-month sentence handed to journalist #JoakimMedin for “insulting” President Erdoğan. Medin was arrested while covering widespread protests across #Turkey and remains imprisoned awaiting trial on a 2nd charge. He must be released:
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...

İmamoğlu’s May Day message:

"This cycle will certainly turn. We will soon bring a period in which labor and workers will get their rights. The days when bans&oppression will end are very close. We’re close to days when we celebrate May 1st with millions of people with enthusiasm in Taksim."

May Day celebrations have started in #İstanbul. Police intervened against people who wanted to walk to Taksim and detained some of them.

CHP district rallies continue in #İstanbul. Thousands gather in Başakşehir for tonight’s gathering.

Swedish journalist Joakim Medin was sentenced to over 11 months in prison for insulting Erdoğan and remains in custody as he is facing terrorism-related charges in a separate case.

He was arrested upon arriving in Turkey last month to cover the anti-regime protests and has been detained since.

The trial of 90 young people has been postponed to July, and the court ruled to separate the case files of the eight journalists.

bsky.app/profile/birg...

University students also showed up to demonstrate their support for those on trial.

The first hearing of the young people and journalists detained during the Saraçhane protests is held today. Their families gathered outside the courthouse to make a statement.

A group of Hacettepe University students in Ankara also gathered to make a statement in front it the Rectorate. They were prevented and attacked by private security officers.

Ankara University students gathered to make a statement and demonstrate their support for their detained classmates:

“Arrests and pressures do not intimidate us.”

Ekrem İmamoğlu addresses AKP and MHP supporters:

"We must walk together towards a beautiful future in peace and tranquility. We have no choice but to try to find the truth. Let's get rid of this wrong order urgently together."

Lawyer and human rights advocate Selçuk Kozağaçlı, who was released yesterday, was arrested again after the Bakırköy Prosecutor's Office objected to the decision of his release.

Bu da günün güzel haberi:
Selçuk Kozağaçlı tahliye edildi!

Another rally in #Turkey is taking place tonight as part of CHP's plan of holding rallies every Wednesday in a different district of İstanbul.

Scenes from tonight's gathering in Beylikdüzü.