Turkish police have detained 11 individuals as part of an investigation into social media calls for an economic boycott, following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, state media reported on Thursday. The protest movement, driven by opposition leader Ozgur Ozel’s call to boycott businesses tied to President Tayyip Erdogan’s government, expanded into a one-day halt in shopping, aiming to undermine the government’s economic stability.
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Prosecutors launched the probe on Tuesday to investigate posts on social and traditional media that they say were intended to prevent a segment of the public from engaging in economic activity. Citing potential violations of laws against hate speech and inciting public hostility, the Istanbul chief prosecutor’s office confirmed that simultaneous raids were conducted across multiple locations, detaining 11 suspects while efforts to apprehend five more continue.
The government has condemned the boycott as a destabilizing tactic, coming at a time when Turkey’s economy is under strain from high inflation—March figures showed inflation at 38.1%—and ongoing currency turmoil. Some business owners have reported a significant drop in customers following the boycott call, although others view the protest as a necessary measure to express dissent.