In Turkey, widespread pro-democracy protests will likely last for several more weeks following the arrest of a key opposition figure, but unless the movement can tap into other grievances like economic concerns, the demonstrations will likely eventually peter out amid decreasing organization and an intensified security crackdown. Since the March 19 detention of Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu -- a key rival of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and, as of March 23, the 2028 presidential candidate for the main opposition Republican People's Party, or CHP -- hundreds of thousands of people across Turkey have defied protest bans and taken to the streets to call for Imamoglu's release. The protests have been particularly large in the major cities governed by the CHP, which include Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir. Turkish riot police have frequently clashed with protesters, deploying rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannons. According to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya, Turkish...
