“The people governing us are violating our rights,” said Ara Yıldırım, a medical student in İstanbul, as Turkey braces for a fourth day of nationwide protests following the detention of İstanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.
The 20-year-old joined thousands in Kadıköy, a district long known for opposition to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, where students and young demonstrators continue to demonstrate.
İmamoğlu’s detention on Wednesday triggered a wave of protests across the country, marking the largest street unrest since the 2013 Gezi Park protests. Demonstrations have spread to 55 of Turkey’s 81 provinces.
“We’ll still be living in Turkey in 20, 30, 40 years, so we have to set it on the right track,” Yıldırım said.
The protests were called by the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), which was expected to formally nominate İmamoğlu on Sunday as its 2028 presidential candidate.
‘Becoming a dictatorship’
“If people stay strong, maybe something positive will come out of all this,” said Yıldırım, who has only known life under Erdoğan.
Next to him, İnci Ercan, 19, described the lack of freedom in the country.
“Political opposition figures often end up in prison. Since I was little, there have been protests, but the government does nothing. People protest, there’s a crackdown, and that’s the end of it,” she said.
In recent nights, the sound of banging pots and pans has echoed across neighborhoods — a traditional sign of protest in Turkey.
“We want more rights. We want to live in freedom and prosperity,” said Şevval, 26, a shop worker. She joined protests at City Hall on Thursday and again on Saturday. She declined to give her surname, citing fear of being targeted.
She believes the protests will grow.
“We’re more aware of things today, and social media plays a bigger role in that,” she said.
‘Justice and democracy, not this mess’
Koray, 25, said he plans to leave Turkey but wants to help push for change before doing so.
“As a gay man, I care about freedoms. But the main reason young people are out protesting is the economy,” he said, adding that he’s been unable to find work.
Turkey is in a prolonged economic crisis, with inflation above 35 percent for three years.
Across the street, a small square is named after Ali İsmail Korkmaz, a 19-year-old student beaten to death during the 2013 Gezi Park protests.
Sitting on a scooter with a glass of tea in hand, 27-year-old Özkan said this new wave of protests may grow larger than 2013.
“Young people want justice and democracy,” he said. “They don’t want to live in this mess anymore.”
© Agence France-Presse