Turkey’s Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested on March 19, sparking widespread demonstrations across the country. Protesters are calling for his release and demanding democratic reforms, as they feel President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s rule has gone too far.
From university campuses to city centers, angry voices have been raised for a month. Signs with poetic messages, such as “We will wisely rebuild what ignorance has destroyed” and “The world is ours,” have become common sights on the streets. The slogans are a mix of humor and subversion, with some writers using irony and sarcasm to criticize the regime.
A teacher even took to the streets, holding up a sign that read: “Sorry kids, no class today, your teacher is resisting for your future.” Meanwhile, students have expressed frustration with the regime’s human rights abuses. The messages are clear: protesters want change and are willing to use art and satire to make their voices heard.
As the protests continue, Turkey teeters on the brink of a constitutional crisis. With Erdogan in power for 22 years, many feel that his rule has become unaccountable and undemocratic. The question now is whether the regime will respond to the growing unrest with reform or repression.
Source: https://www.lemonde.fr/en/m-le-mag/article/2025/04/17/the-turkish-protests-a-work-of-art_6740337_117.html