Protests Suppressed, Social Media Disrupted, and a Teen Gunman in Izmir — Turkey Faces a Day of Parallel Crises
A wave of political turbulence and violence shook Turkey on Monday, as authorities cracked down on opposition gatherings, plunged the country into digital blackout, and responded to a deadly shooting carried out by a teenage gunman.
President Erdoğan’s government moved decisively against CHP protests. Riot police used pepper spray inside the party’s Istanbul headquarters after the court ordered the removal of its Istanbul leadership. As riot police dispersed lawmakers and supporters, CHP officials denounced the maneuver as an assault on democratic norms.
Simultaneously, the Turkish government throttled access to multiple social media platforms. Users across Turkey reported disruptions to YouTube, X, Instagram, WhatsApp, and more, with authorities citing the move as necessary to control unrest. Internet watchdogs confirmed the reductions, noting that such throttling is a recurring tool during periods of heightened dissent.
Meanwhile in Izmir’s Balçova district, tragedy struck when a 16-year-old assailant opened fire on a police station using a pump-action shotgun, killing two officers and injuring others. The teenager—who carried the weapon owned by his father—was arrested after being wounded in the leg. Authorities also detained his parents, friends, and an Iranian national allegedly linked to him.
These events unfold against a backdrop of growing authoritarianism. Earlier this year, over 1,100 people, including journalists, were arrested during a crackdown sparked by the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. The Erdoğan administration has blocked hundreds of social media accounts, including those of activists and student groups—moves critics say aim to stifle dissent and media freedom. Platforms like Meta rocked back, penalizing Turkey over demands for censorship.
The convergence of all three crises—political suppression, digital censorship, and sudden violence by a young gunman—paints a complex and escalating portrait of unrest in Turkey today despite promising economic growth.
