Turkey’s main opposition leader on Monday called for a nationwide boycott of businesses and media outlets linked to the ruling party to protest the arrest of dozens of local officials, including the mayor of İstanbul, the Turkish president’s strongest rival.
Speaking at a large rally Monday night outside the İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality headquarters in Saraçhane, the sixth mass gathering there in less than two weeks, Republican People’s Party (CHP) Chairman Özgür Özel named nearly two dozen brands and institutions he said should be shunned for aligning with the government or failing to cover the protests.
The list includes coffee chain Espressolab, bookstores D&R and İdefix, broadcaster CNN Türk, Kilim Mobilya furniture, betting services Misli and iddaa and travel operator ETS, which is connected to the tourism minister. Several are subsidiaries of media conglomerates the Demirören Group and Turkuvaz Media, both known for their support of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government.
“Drink your coffee anywhere, just not at Espressolab,” Özel said. “Don’t step into D&R. If you see Demirören’s mall in İstiklal, walk across the street.”
Biz senin ne yaptığını bilmez miyiz?
Sattığı kitabın parasını Erdoğan’a yollayan https://t.co/aRKuFslLKT’a girmiyorsunuz.#Boykot pic.twitter.com/VGltjTsaQZ
— CHP İletişim (@CHP_iletisim) March 25, 2025
The boycott comes amid a widening backlash over what critics say is a politically motivated crackdown on the opposition. Last week more than 80 people were detained in a sweeping investigation targeting the city of İstanbul and affiliated municipalities. İstanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, Şişli Mayor Resul Emrah Şahan and Beylikdüzü Mayor Mehmet Murat Çalık were among those detained and later suspended from office. A government-appointed trustee has taken over Şişli Municipality.
The CHP accuses the government of staging a coup against what the party deems the next president of Turkey. İmamoğlu, seen as a leading contender to challenge Erdoğan, was previously sentenced in 2022 on charges of insulting election officials, but that conviction remains under appeal.
The boycott campaign has spread quickly online, with users sharing extended lists of brands linked to pro-government interests and encouraging others to close accounts, cancel subscriptions and shop only at local or independent businesses.
Criticism has also reached media outlets that failed to report on the protests. Özel singled out mainstream stations for ignoring mass detentions and described their silence as complicity. “If these channels continue to hide the truth, they’ll lose what little credibility they have left,” he said.
The impact was felt almost immediately. After Özel warned, “I won’t let you sell another car,” Doğuş Holding’s NTV began airing his full speech.
The D&R websit went offline hours after the rally, citing maintenance work. Meanwhile, educational platform Evrim Ağacı announced it was withdrawing its books from D&R and İdefix and would reject any future interview requests from CNN Türk or similar channels.
Ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) spokesperson Ömer Çelik called the campaign “political bullying” and accused Özel of speaking like an aggressor, not a statesman. He said the CHP should answer internal corruption allegations instead of attacking national businesses.
Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç called the boycott campaign “a very dangerous approach,” accusing the opposition of targeting the economy by naming brands in public protests.
Özel stressed that workers at boycotted firms should not be targeted.
“The employees of these companies are not our enemies,” he said. “Our problem is with those who use their platforms and profits to protect this government, not with those doing their jobs.”
As calls for financial resistance grow, the CHP leader hinted that the boycott could expand further unless major outlets reverse their stance. He gave unnamed media groups believed to include NTV and other Doğuş Group affiliates until tomorrow night to cover the protests or face naming and shaming.
The movement has revived memories of the 2013 Gezi Park protests, when consumers similarly targeted pro-government businesses, though many campaigns failed to sustain long-term momentum. This time organizers say they are better prepared.
The boycott has added economic pressure to a country already struggling with inflation, currency instability and a rising cost of living, all of which have fueled frustration with the government’s handling of the economy.
CHP supporters say this may be the most effective nonviolent response available.