Lower thirds:

00:02 Report by Julia Hahn
00:25 Erdener Isik | Opposition CHP youth branch
00:42 File
01:05 July 16, 2025 | x.com/kediotti
01:13 Julia Hahn | DW Correspondent | Istanbul
01:45 Sebnem Gumuscu | Political scientist
02:09 File
02:52 Recep Tayyip Erdogan | Turkish President | July 9, 2025
03:23 Sebnem Gumuscu | Political scientist
03:45 Erdener Isik | Opposition CHP youth branch

Script:

+++Erdener and friends protesting with Imamoglu posters 

+++ATMO FREI (shouts slogan in Turkish, no need to translate)

00:02

Every week, 25-year-old Erdener Işık ((pronounced: I-sh-ık/I-sch-ük)) and his friends take to the streets – 

to protest for the release of Ekrem Imamoğlu ((pronounced: Imam-olu)).

Istanbul's mayor and Turkey's leading opposition politician has been in jail for over four 

months.

Erdener is a member of Imamoğlu's party – the opposition CHP.

00:22
+++SOT Erdener Isik / Opposition CHP, Youth Branch (Turkish)
Ekrem Imamoğlu is currently being held as a political prisoner. This is a direct violation of our will, the will of the people. We will not bow to this. We are certain that Ekrem Imamoğlu will be our president one day.+++ (18 sec)

+++Imamoğlu eigen, dann via agencies: speech, detention, protesters vs. police, Insert: File 
 
00:42

Imamoğlu has been at the helm of Turkey's largest city for the past six years... 

... and was widely seen as President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's main political rival 

in the next elections in 2028.

But in March, he was arrested over corruption allegations – and suspended from 

office. 

It sparked the biggest street protests in Turkey in over a decade.

+++Imamoglu in court, social media video – Insert: July 16, 2025 / Source: x.com/kediotti

01:03

Imamoğlu was recently sentenced to 20 months in jail – in one of several other cases 

pending against him. 

01:11
+++PTC Julia Hahn / DW Correspondent, in Istanbul 
A lot has changed here in Istanbul since Imamoğlu's detention. His face used to be plastered around the city on public buildings. But now there are only a few posters left, as most have been removed.
His Turkish X account has also been blocked by the authorities.+++ (Julia shows phone)

+++arrests of other CHP members via Turkish agencies

01:29

And across the country, other members of his party have faced judicial pressure. 

At least 15 mayors and hundreds of their staff, have been detained or jailed over graft 

allegations.

+++Julia and Sebnem 

01:39

Critics say the arrests are politically motivated. 

01:44
+++SOT Sebnem Gumuscu / Political Scientist, Middlebury College (English) (Turkish: Şebnem Gümüşçü)
What we hear from the reports about these investigations, they seem to be really based on flimsy evidence rather than tangible real evidence that can incriminate these mayors. [...] And since 2010, we have seen substantial politicization of the judiciary. [...] The entire judiciary is actually disciplined into supporting Erdoğan's political agenda.+++ (24 sec)

+++CHP local elections victory 2024, Insert: File 

02:09

The CHP delivered a major blow to the president's AK-Party at local elections last year,

posing a threat to Erdoğan's 22-year rule.

02:18
+++SOT Sebnem Gumuscu / Political Scientist, Middlebury College (English) (Turkish: Şebnem Gümüşçü)
This legal crackdown aims to sideline and weaken the CHP as a political force. [...] I would call this as a preemptive move on the part of Erdoğan to take over these local governments and resources from the main opposition and make sure that the next general elections Erdoğan will win again.+++ (21 sec)

+++Erdoğan at AKP parliamentary group meeting

02:40

President Erdoğan and his government have denied any involvement in the prosecutions, 

and insist that the Turkish judiciary is independent.  

But Erdoğan has openly attacked the CHP.

02:51
+++SOT Recep Tayyip Erdogan / Turkish President (Turkish) Insert: July 9, 2025 
Those who took bribes, those who practically held cities under extortion, those who put people in a difficult situation and then robbed them are all from the CHP."+++ (11 sec) 

+++Özel at rally in mid-July 2025, DW eigen – no insert needed

03:02

Özgur Özel, the CHP's chairman who has been leading anti-government protests across the 

country, recently warned that Turkey risked drifting into autocracy. Analysts agree.

03:13
+++SOT Sebnem Gumuscu / Political Scientist, Middlebury College (English) (Turkish: Şebnem Gümüşçü)
If Erdoğan succeeds in this attempt to crack down on the CHP, then Turkey will become a more authoritarian country for sure [...] where we still have opposition parties, but they're quite weak and they really do not have a strong chance to unseat Erdoğan or the ruling party.+++ (20 sec)

+++Erdener and friends prepping posters inside

03:32

And that's exactly what Erdener Işık and his friends are afraid of.

They want political change and for people to have a real choice in the next elections.

03:42
+++SOT Erdener Isik / Opposition CHP, Youth Branch (Turkish)
Many young people here in Turkey see no future. I can't look into the future with confidence or make plans for the next few years. That's why, we can fight with a little more courage and resilience, because we have nothing to lose.+++ (16 sec) 

+++Erdener and others at protest again

03:49

Erdener says the opposition must push back, despite the mounting pressure.

But he knows… it won't be easy.

Text ends: 04:05
Pics end: 04:10