NextFin news, Turkey’s main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) called on citizens and residents of Istanbul to gather for rallies on Sunday and Monday after police set up barricades around its Istanbul headquarters on Sunday, September 7, 2025.
The police blockade followed a court ruling that ordered the removal of the CHP's Istanbul provincial head over alleged irregularities in a 2023 party congress. The court decision and police measures were described by CHP leaders as a "siege" and politically motivated attempts to weaken the opposition.
The CHP has been under a months-long legal crackdown, which has included the arrest of hundreds of its members, notably Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a key rival to President Tayyip Erdogan. The party denies all accusations and says the legal actions are politically driven to eliminate electoral threats.
At a CHP event in Istanbul on Sunday, party chairman Özgür Özel urged supporters and all democrats to protect the party’s headquarters, calling it the "home of Ataturk in Istanbul," referring to Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey.
The CHP’s youth wing also called for a gathering at the party’s provincial headquarters at 8:00 p.m. GMT on Sunday, with another demonstration planned for Monday at 7:00 a.m. GMT.
The police presence included hundreds of officers blocking access to the building, preventing supporters from reaching the headquarters. The situation has heightened political tensions in Istanbul amid ongoing disputes between the ruling party and the opposition.
These events took place in Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city and a key political center, underscoring the escalating conflict between the government and opposition forces ahead of upcoming elections.
Sources: Reuters, The Straits Times, Bloomberg
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