Students stage protest outside Wills Memorial Building against ‘corrupt’ Turkish government

Students from Bristol, Bath, and Cardiff gathered outside the Wills Memorial Building on Thursday (27th March) to protest against the actions of the Turkish government. 

Ekrem İmamoğlu, the mayor of Istanbul, was arrested on 19th March, faced with charges of alleged corruption, bribery and ‘aiding an armed terrorist group’.  

İmamoğlu’s arrest sparked protests across Turkey, as he is the main political rival of president Recep Tayyip Erdogan. This arrest risks preventing İmamoğlu from running in the 2028 presidential elections. 

Protestors have argued that this arrest has silenced the country’s opposition party, the Republican People’s Party or CHP. 

In Bristol, students came out to raise awareness of events in Turkey, arguing the actions of the Turkish government represent a challenge to democracy.  

Holding signs proclaiming, “Silence is Support for Dictatorship” and “Turkey is not a One-Man Show”, the protesters showed solidarity with fellow students within Turkey, who have been staging demonstrations for several days across the country. 

Hundreds of students in Turkey have been arrested for participating in the protests, causing some demonstrators in Bristol to cover their faces to avoid identification. 

Protesters in Turkey have faced violence from the authorities, with the police using tear gas and riot gear to disperse demonstrations, despite most action having been largely peaceful. 

Speaking to Bristol 24/7, Erkan, a student protestor, said: “We gathered in front of Wills Memorial Building today because we believe in a free and fair society, just as Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (the founder and first president of Turkey) envisioned for our country.

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“Atatürk’s vision of a democratic, secular and just Türkiye is under threat and we cannot remain silent.

“İmamoğlu’s arrest is not just about one person, it’s a reflection of a deeper problem, the systematic erosion of our rights and the growing suppression of freedom for everyone.”

In an interview with the Epigram, student protesters said they were aiming to raise awareness within the university community, encouraging other students to look into events in Turkey. 

One person said: “Media coverage is a huge help to our struggle, and we would be grateful for the presence of the community within our protests to know that we are not alone.” 

Similar protests have been taking place across the UK, rallying against Erdogan’s regime and calling on the UK government to speak out against the Turkish government.  

A University of Bristol spokesperson said: “We support the right to freedom of expression and for students to engage in lawful, peaceful protest on matters that are important to them.”