In the western Turkish metropolis of Istanbul, members and supporters of the largest opposition party, the CHP (Republican People’s Party), are protesting against the removal of the provincial administration and appointment of a trustee.
Following yesterday’s protests, the police have completely cordoned off the area around the party headquarters in the Sarıyer district today before the arrival of Gürsel Tekin, who was appointed to head the trustee board.
The demonstrators, who include representatives and members of other parties who expressed their solidarity with the CHP, gathered and tried to break through the barricades. Police used pepper spray against the crowd, detaining 10 people and causing a 54-year-old man to suffer a fainting spell.
The protests were triggered by a court ruling last Tuesday. A district court that, according to legal experts, has no jurisdiction over party elections, removed the entire executive committee of the CHP in Istanbul from office for alleged irregularities at the party conference two years ago and appointed the previous executive committee. Against the will of his party, Gürsel Tekin accepted the court’s ruling. The CHP, seeking to prevent him and his team from taking over operations at the Istanbul provincial headquarters, has announced that it will expel Tekin from the party.
The governor of Istanbul imposed a three-day ban on demonstrations in several districts. At around the same time, access to numerous online platforms in Turkey was restricted. Among others, YouTube, Instagram, and WhatsApp were affected, according to Netblocks, an organization known primarily for monitoring internet blocks, on X. In a speech late on Sunday evening, CHP leader Özgür Özel called on party supporters to march to the party headquarters in Istanbul despite the blockade. “Those who defend the Republican People’s Party defend the republic,” he said. On Monday morning, further barriers were erected.
Tekin arrived at the party headquarters at noon and said in an initial statement that he would not enter with police escort. Shortly after, he entered the building with the support of riot police, arguing that those protesting against him did not belong to the CHP.
Party members inside the building protested the decision, and police attacked them using tear gas.
CHP Group Deputy Chair Ali Mahir Başarır reacted strongly to Tekin’s remarks, saying, “Everyone here is an honorable CHP member; this situation is shameful.”
Başarır said, “There are 5,000 police officers on duty in the corridors and everywhere. Barricades have been set up. Our deputies are currently everywhere, assessing the situation.”
CHP members and supporting political parties continue their vigil despite the blockade. DEM Party officials are also expected to join the vigil in the evening.
Özgür Özel: We will defend democratic politics
At a meeting of the CHP Organizational Representatives Assembly on Monday, party leader Özgür Özel commented on current developments. “We are facing an exhausted, disoriented government that has nothing more to offer this country,” Özel said. “Erdoğan is willing to plunge the country into chaos to secure his place in power, the opposition politician continued. He described the attacks on his party as targeted political repression: “The government sees the CHP as the greatest threat to its hold on power. The multi-party system in Turkey is seriously endangered—the attack on the CHP is an expression of that. We will defend democratic politics as a front.”
Özel spoke of a “creeping coup against democratic institutions—with March 19 as the turning point. On that day, Istanbul Mayor and CHP presidential candidate Ekrem Imamoğlu was arrested and removed from office, which Özel described as a “coup.” Since then, he said, the democratic order has been suspended. “For 173 days, we have been experiencing a coup against Turkey’s future – and we are resisting,” Özel said. “Whatever they do, they will fail. Our determination is stronger than their repression.”
Wave of repression against the CHP
The removal of the Istanbul executive committee is part of a comprehensive plan by the government to eliminate the CHP leadership. The wave of repression against the party has been rolling for months; more than a dozen mayors have been removed from office and arrested, and hundreds of employees of CHP-run municipalities have also been detained. In a trial on September 15, party leader Özgür Özel also faces removal from office.
Following the removal of the Istanbul Provincial Administration and the appointment of a trustee in its place, the CHP submitted an application to the Çankaya District Election Board to hold an extraordinary congress. The application, signed by over 900 delegates, was accepted and the CHP Istanbul Provincial Extraordinary Congress will be held on September 24 under the shadow of the trustee and the ongoing tension.
