T\u00fcrkiye has recently been at a critical crossroads between democracy and authoritarianism. The arrest of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem \u0130mamo\u011flu and the cancellation of his university degree have led to widespread protests across the country. These actions, led particularly by university students, have become a resistance movement against the government\u2019s increasingly oppressive policies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u0130mamo\u011flu\u2019s Arrest and Cancellation of His Degree<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n On March 18, 2025, Istanbul University canceled Ekrem \u0130mamo\u011flu\u2019s degree on the grounds that there were irregularities in his transfer from a private university in Northern Cyprus to Istanbul University in 1990. This decision eliminated \u0130mamo\u011flu\u2019s possibility of running for the 2028 presidential elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The following day, on March 19, 2025, \u0130mamo\u011flu and more than 100 people with him were detained on charges of corruption and links to the terrorist organization PKK. These arrests have been viewed by opposition and human rights organizations as politically motivated<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Ironically, while the fate of President Recep Tayyip Erdo\u011fan\u2019s university degree has still not been clarified for years, opposition leader \u0130mamo\u011flu\u2019s degree has been revoked. Doubts about whether Erdo\u011fan actually has a university degree are still being discussed in the public domain, but to date, no transparent documentation or independent verification has been produced on the subject.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since the protests began, around 2,000 people have been detained nationwide, including a significant number of university students. Around 200 people are currently being held in custody<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Protests Led by University Students<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u0130mamo\u011flu\u2019s arrest and the revocation of his degree have caused a huge backlash among university students. Istanbul University students expressed their anger by boycotting classes and organizing protests on campus. These actions spread to other universities and turned into a student movement across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Students have raised their voices against the oppression at universities with the slogan \u201cIf there is violence, there is no class.\u201d Middle East Technical University (METU) students also protested the government’s oppressive policies by organizing marches on their campuses<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Calls for an Economic Boycott<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Following \u0130mamo\u011flu’s arrest, Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader \u00d6zg\u00fcr \u00d6zel called for an economic boycott against companies close to the government. This call was supported by students and civil society organizations. Government officials, however, reacted harshly, describing these boycotts as “economic sabotage” and announced that legal action would be taken<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n