In Istanbul, Turkish opponents have called for a boycott of pro-Erdogan brands, creating their own "boycott cafes" to gather. (Credit: Adem Altan/AFP)
Shuttered shops, deserted café terraces, canceled concerts — and the ire of the Turkish government. On Wednesday, April 2, the opposition, led by the Republican People’s Party (CHP), called for a nationwide boycott in Turkey to protest the arrest of Istanbul’s Kemalist mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, on March 19, in what many view as a politically motivated move. The campaign, amplified by social media, spread through city streets as numerous businesses closed in solidarity — a new form of pressure on President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has remained unmoved by the crowds demanding the release of his main rival.Turkish leaders condemned the initiative in strong terms. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya called it “a sabotage of economic independence” and “an attempted economic coup.” Commerce Minister Omer Bolat suggested affected businesses could...
Shuttered shops, deserted café terraces, canceled concerts — and the ire of the Turkish government. On Wednesday, April 2, the opposition, led by the Republican People’s Party (CHP), called for a nationwide boycott in Turkey to protest the arrest of Istanbul’s Kemalist mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, on March 19, in what many view as a politically motivated move. The campaign, amplified by social media, spread through city streets as numerous businesses closed in solidarity — a new form of pressure on President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has remained unmoved by the crowds demanding the release of his main rival.Turkish leaders condemned the initiative in strong terms. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya called it “a sabotage of economic independence” and “an attempted economic coup.” Commerce Minister Omer Bolat suggested affected...
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