Dr Balki Begum Bayhan

I’m in @lseeuroppblog.bsky.social today analysing Turkey’s protests and why they’re happening.

Scenes from Ankara. Police storm the CHP headquarters to remove Özgür Özel and his supporters from the building, following the court decision stripping him of the party leadership.

Students march to protest the closure of Bilgi University after the regime shut it down with a presidential decree

Bilgi University, one of Turkey's first private universities, which opened in the late 1990s, was shut down today by a presidential decree with no explanation. It was always a pleasure to visit there, fantastic students and faculty. This really hits hard for many.

Erdogan is not immortal, so the damage being done to the Turkish state and economy to keep him in power now risk severely weakening Turkey after he is gone. Comparisons with Russia's trajectory towards an unstable post-Putin era look more plausible than a few years ago

theconversation.com/anas-sarwar-...

Great research opportunity for anyone working on #Albania and #migration. Apply by 24 November & feel free to boost and share! www.wfd.org/vacancy-cons...

As someone who thinks that politics (and speech) is action, my favorite quote from Mamdani's speech is this: “No longer is politics something that is done to us. Now it is something we do.”

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

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.

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?)

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”

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

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."

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.

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.

71 kişi kaldı hepsi çıkasıya kadar. #serbestbırak #erkenseçim

Scenes from #İstanbul, thousands gather for the first night rally taking place in Şişli tonight. CHP leader Özgür Özel announced that they will be holding a rally in different districts of Istanbul every Wednesday.

Minister of Justice of Turkey: "We have no authority to intervene in the judiciary and say arrest these people and release these people." However, no one believes this including the government supporters. No one believes that Imamoglu and others will receive a fair trial. The less persuasive the+

Muse postpones İstanbul concert amid anti-government boycott bianet.org/haber/muse-p...

Turkey’s media watchdog (RTÜK) warns media outlets, saying they are monitoring channels that support the boycott and that “what is necessary will be done.” A "non-consumption" action is being held today as part of the economic boycott called by the opposition.

I'm looking forward to be in conversation with @diegocupolo.bsky.social tomorrow (2 April, Wednesday) to discuss the recent events in Turkey, and their implications for the future of Turkey's democracy. You're all very welcome to the video chat hosted by @turkeyrecap.bsky.social

📢 Announcement! We're hosting a live video chat with @arifekose.bsky.social and @diegocupolo.bsky.social tomorrow to break down recent events in Turkey. Join us Wednesday, Apr. 2 at 1500 TRT / 1200 UTC / 0800 EST. Link here:

My humble piece on the latest developments in Turkey. It's impossible to capture everything in one piece but I tried to capture what's novel at this particular conjuncture. I tried to analyse Erdogan's actions beyond arrest of Imamoglu.