'Pikachu' joins anti-president mass protest in Turkey
What's the story
A demonstrator dressed as Pikachu joined thousands of protestors who flocked to the streets to express outrage over the arrest of Istanbul's mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, on Wednesday. Imamoglu, seen as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's biggest political rival, was detained on political corruption and terrorism charges last week after he was named the presidential candidate for the 2028 election. The protesters say this is part of a wider strategy to remove Erdogan's strongest opposition figure ahead of upcoming elections.
Political strife
Imamoglu's arrest sparks nationwide protests
Since the demonstrations started last Wednesday, Turkish authorities have detained around 1,900 demonstrators. The footage of the protest from Antalya on Wednesday shows cops chasing the protesters, with Turkey's Republican People's Party (CHP) writing on X, "Even Pikachu is affected by pepper spray." Apart from the Pikachu protester, pictures purportedly showing those dressed as Batman, Joker, and Spiderman joining the protests have also emerged on social media. However, many users speculated the images were AI-generated.
Twitter Post
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Pikachu running from the police with protestors in Turkey pic.twitter.com/OFvGFuwcg7
— non aesthetic things (@PicturesFoIder) March 27, 2025
Superhero solidarity
Turkey begins major crackdown on the demonstrations
Imamoglu has dismissed the charges of corruption brought against him. The protesters claim Imamoglu's detention was politically motivated, but Erdogan describes the marchers as "evil" agents who are "disturbing the peace." Turkey has also launched a serious crackdown on demonstrations, with police deporting BBC correspondent Mark Lowen on Thursday for his on-the-ground coverage of the upheaval in Istanbul. Lowen was detained on Wednesday and deported 17 hours later after Turkish officials accused him of "threatening public order."
Viral sensation
Turkey ranks 158th in 2024 Press Freedom Index
Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc maintains that Imamoglu was arrested due to the gravity of the corruption allegations against him, not for political reasons. Tunc also denied that Turkey imprisons journalists for their reporting, despite the arrest of eight reporters, who were later released. Reporters Without Borders, a free speech advocacy organization, ranks Turkey 158th out of 180 countries in the 2024 Press Freedom Index. It claims that the government actively influences 90% of all media outlets.