A Turkish Paradox: When Protesters Are Treated Worse Than Terrorists

<p dir="ltr">In Türkiye, peaceful protesters, especially students, are increasingly treated as criminals under anti-terror laws while genuine extremist displays go unpunished. The justice system has become inverted, where dissent is seen as a greater threat than violence. Following the arrest of Istanbul’s Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, demonstrations erupted and were met with mass arrests, censorship, and intimidation. Universities have turned into battlegrounds for free expression as students and academics face charges for ordinary activities. This selective enforcement reflects a broader authoritarian shift under Erdoğan, where loyalty to power overrides justice, and democracy is steadily hollowed out.</p>