700 people in Berlin: Protest for democracy and freedom in Turkey

700 people in Berlin: Protest for democracy and freedom in Turkey

On April 14, 2025, around 700 people gathered in front of the Red City Hall in Berlin for a demonstration under the motto "Berliner Platform for Democracy in Turkey". According to Deutschlandfunk, the protesters expressed their solidarity with the detained Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu and demanded justice and democracy. The General Secretary of the CHP, Dogan, emphasized the importance of these values ​​for people in Turkey.

Imamoglu, who is the largest domestic rival of President Erdoğan, was arrested on March 19. A court had ordered custody of corruption allegations. His arrest not only led to protests in Berlin, but also to massive demonstrations throughout Turkey. These events are part of a larger protest cycle that began on the weekend after his arrest and put the whole country into turmoil.

protests in Turkey

In Turkey itself, there were mass protests that received broad support from the population. Tens of thousands of citizens demonstrated in Istanbul, especially in the Maltepe district, where the social democratic opposition party CHP had called for the major rally. According to [DW] (https://www.dw.com/de/tuerkei-massenproteste-in-istanbul-fuer-Freiheit-i%CC%87Mamo%C4%9Flus-und- Democracy against Eve/A-72085791), over two million people were involved in the protests. Dilek Imamoglu, the wife of the imprisoned mayor, spoke on one of these rallies and demanded the release of her husband.

The protesters, which consist of different social classes such as students, pensioners, workers and teachers, show a remarkable agreement. The current economic crisis in Turkey, which is characterized by a high inflation of 42% in January and rising rents, is a main concern of the demonstrators. An older participant refers to the "empty saucepan" as a sign of the emergency of many citizens. President Erdoğan, on the other hand, described the protesters as "marginal groups", which further reinforces the tensions between the government and the population.

political dimension and reactions

The current situation in Turkey is evaluated differently by various political actors. The SPD MP Macit Karaahmetoglu described the allegations against Imamoglu as politically motivated and absurd. He expects Erdoğan to act against Imamoglu because it is increasingly perceived as a powerful rival. According to [Deutschlandfunk] (https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/spd- Politichererkaraahmetoglu-uerkei-am-Scheide-Autocracy-and-Democracy 100.html), the SPD parliamentary foreign policy spokesman sees the situation as a severe setback for democracy in Turkey.

The ongoing protests could make 2025 a historical year for Turkey, about 22 years after Erdoğan's taking office. The participation of broad sections of the population and the demands for freedom and the return to democracy indicate deeply dissatisfaction with the current political situation. The political arrest of Imamoglu and the associated protests are not only a challenge for the government, but could also significantly influence the future development of Turkish politics.