On March 19 2025, following the arrest of Istanbul’s mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, protests broke out across the country just before he was endorsed as the Presidential Candidate for the main opposition party with 15.5 million popular vote for the next elections, at the latest in 2028. İmamoğlu is not alone as other opposition politicians and municipal officials have found themselves targeted. 

These attacks on opposition politicians follow the intimidation, attacks, arrests or even imprisonments of other politicians -including prominent party leaders-, journalists, NGO staff, and our fellow trade unionists in the last six months. After the 2024 local elections, a number of elected metropolitan and district mayors were removed from their offices and the government appointed trustees.

As an EU candidate country committed to the Copenhagen criteria and member of the Council of Europe, Türkiye committed itself to respect and uphold democratic values, the rule of law and human rights – including such essential rights as freedoms of opinion, expression, speech, association, press and freedom of peaceful assembly – and to accept the crucial role played by the opposition in a democratic society. 

EU accession negotiations with Türkiye have been stalled since 2016. The detention of İmamoğlu and others raises major questions regarding the Turkish government’s commitment to democracy, democratic rules and institutions as the main establishments of democracy have already been tarnished. The EU must not look away from grave violations of core European values but should rather make respect of democracy and human rights a condition for cooperation.

IndustriAll Global and Europe urge the international community and the European Commission to take action and call on the Turkish authorities to respect these commitments - the rights of elected officials, as well as the right of peaceful demonstration, need to be fully respected - and demand the immediate release of İmamoğlu, as well as the all other political and society leaders and peaceful protesters that have been detained.

IndustriAll Europe’s General Secretary, Judith Kirton-Darling, recalls that as an EU candidate country and member of the Council of Europe, Türkiye must respect fundamental values, such as freedom of expression and freedom of assembly – and accept the role of the political opposition. She says: "The country’s trade unions, as vital actors in any democratic society, must be allowed to freely organise workers and defend their interests, including the right to vote for politicians of their choice".

IndustriALL Global Union’s General Secretary Atle Hoie said: “Türkiye must guarantee the fundamental human and workers’ rights by re-establishing the basics of democracy. The separation of executive, legislative and judicative powers is essential while rule of law and fair trial are essential elements for a genuine democracy. Trade unions and labour rights need to be one of the cornerstones of Türkiye”.