Türkiye’s main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) is intensifying efforts to mobilize supporters for a planned rally in Istanbul on March 18, notably the first anniversary of unrest that followed the arrest of former Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoğlu, as the party grapples with mounting legal challenges and a deepening internal power struggle.

Party headquarters has instructed provincial branches, lawmakers and mayors to ensure a strong presence at the demonstration in Saraçhane, with local organizations told to transport as many members as possible to the rally site, according to a report in the Sabah newspaper citing party sources.

The push comes after criticism over low turnout at recent hearings in Silivri tied to corruption charges against Imamoğlu. Limited participation by lawmakers and party members, despite repeated calls, has fueled internal debate and claims that parts of the party base are distancing themselves from the former mayor.

Against that backdrop, the leadership has tightened coordination ahead of the rally, in what is widely seen as an effort to reassert control over the party’s base and project unity.

According to party sources, officials across Türkiye were told to attend the gathering without exception, while provincial branches were instructed to organize transportation. Announcements from local offices in provinces such as Manisa and Düzce confirmed that buses would be arranged from multiple districts, with similar calls issued in cities including Giresun, Sivas and Karabük.

The party has also urged members to promote the rally on social media, while reports suggest that public events, including concerts, may be organized to draw broader participation.

The rally is meant to mark the anniversary of protests that erupted in March 2025 following Imamoğlu’s detention and arrest on corruption charges. Those demonstrations, which the CHP had encouraged supporters to join, escalated into unrest in Istanbul, with clashes between protesters and police.

More than 120 police officers were injured, and over 1,100 suspects were detained during unauthorized demonstrations between March 19 and 23. Authorities said some participants were linked to marginal or extremist groups and had confronted riot police while violating bans on public gatherings.

Some of those groups were also reported to have taken part in the 2013 Gezi Park riots and were later seen at CHP-linked gatherings in Saraçhane, where tensions flared as security forces moved to disperse unauthorized crowds.

The latest mobilization also unfolds against the backdrop of an ongoing internal struggle within the CHP following its 2023 election defeat. Party leader Özgür Özel replaced longtime leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu after the loss, but divisions between Özel’s camp and Kılıçdaroğlu loyalists have persisted.

The dispute has extended into the courts, where a case was filed by expelled party members seeking to annul the 2023 party congress that brought Özel to power. The plaintiffs in the case, cancelled due to a lack of legal standing in November, alleged that some delegates were bribed to support Özel, claims that have further deepened mistrust within the party.

During hearings in the case last year, Özel warned that he could call for mass protests that would “bring life to a standstill” if there were attempts to remove him through judicial means, framing the proceedings as politically motivated.

Meanwhile, the CHP is contending with multiple corruption investigations involving senior figures.

In Istanbul, a major trial involving Imamoğlu and more than 400 defendants resumed this week, with prosecutors accusing the former mayor of leading a criminal network tied to municipal contracts, including allegations of bribery, bid-rigging and fraud. If he is convicted on all charges, Imamoğlu is facing up to 2,400 years in prison.

Separately, Antalya Mayor Muhittin Böcek appeared in court on Monday alongside dozens of co-defendants in a corruption and bribery case, while Kuşadası Mayor Ömer Günel was arrested on similar charges.

The party’s repeated efforts to mobilize supporters have also drawn attention. Since Imamoğlu’s detention, Özel has held dozens of rallies across the country, though participation has reportedly declined over time. Previous attempts to bolster turnout have included organized transport from neighboring provinces, such as a recent rally in Yalova, where dozens of buses and minibuses were used to bring attendees.

With legal proceedings unfolding on multiple fronts, internal divisions unresolved and turnout concerns lingering, the March 18 rally is expected to test the CHP’s ability to consolidate its base.

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Defense Minister Yaşar Güler met with his Italian counterpart Guido Crosetto in Rome on an official visit on Monday, as the two NATO allies discussed the regional and global developments.

According to a statement from Türkiye’s Defense Ministry, Güler traveled to Italy at Crosetto’s invitation, accompanied by Chief of the General Staff Gen. Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu.

He was welcomed with a military ceremony upon arrival in Rome, where Italian military officials and Turkish diplomatic representatives, including Ambassador to Rome Elif Çomoğlu Ülgen, were present.

Following the ceremony, Güler and Crosetto held a one-on-one meeting before leading broader talks between their delegations. Bayraktaroğlu also attended the expanded discussions.

The meetings come as Türkiye and Italy continue to strengthen defense ties within NATO, amid ongoing regional and global security challenges.

No further details were immediately provided regarding the outcomes of the talks.

Türkiye and Italy have maintained close cooperation in defense and security, including joint efforts within NATO missions and collaboration in the defense industry.

The visit underscores ongoing high-level contacts between the two countries aimed at enhancing military coordination and strategic partnership.

Recently, earlier this month, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni conveyed Italy’s support for Türkiye after Turkish authorities announced that a ballistic missile launched from Iran was intercepted.

Meloni expressed solidarity with Türkiye during a phone call with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as the two leaders discussed escalating tensions in the Middle East, the Italian prime minister’s office said in a statement.

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Preparations for the upcoming Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr in Syria’s eastern city of Raqqa are unfolding in an atmosphere of relative peace and security for the first time in years, a stark contrast to past celebrations overshadowed by terrorist control and violence.

Long a battleground among competing armed groups, the city’s markets are now filled with families buying new clothes, sweets and cookies, children play in the streets, and cafes echo with laughter, scenes once rare in a land worn by conflict.

Residents say they are enjoying a sense of safety that has eluded them through years of terror group presence and instability.

For more than a decade, Raqqa was caught in the crosshairs of the Daesh and PKK/YPG terrorist groups, which imposed strict controls that kept people away from public life and celebration. The YPG is the Syrian offshoot of the PKK terrorist group, which has waged a decadeslong campaign that killed over 40,000 people in Türkiye, Syria and Iraq. The YPG is allied with the U.S. under the pretext of fighting Daesh remnants in the region and controls oil-rich cities in the northeast.

Locals such as Mudahiye Canım say this year’s festive atmosphere feels unprecedented.

“In previous years, young people feared being detained or harassed in crowds. Now markets are full,” she said, adding that visible security forces have helped restore public confidence.

Another resident noted this was the first holiday preparation without a PKK/YPG presence in the city, with people now free to take photos and move about without apprehension. Families who once avoided crowds are now out in force, a sign of restored daily life.

Raqqa’s economic pulse appears to be reviving too: shopkeepers report brisk business as demand for holiday goods fuels activity in previously quiet squares and streets. Many note that despite some price increases, customers are undeterred, and social gatherings have taken on new vibrancy.

The shift comes amid broader regional developments aimed at curbing terrorist influence and fostering stability.

In January, the Syrian government reasserted control over areas previously held by the YPG, launching operations west of the Euphrates on Jan. 16 and later moving east with support from local tribal forces.

A cease-fire and integration deal reached on Jan. 18 called for the YPG to withdraw from Raqqa and Deir el-Zour, return public institutions in Hassakeh to state authority, and integrate YPG fighters into government security forces.

After brief clashes, a Jan. 30 agreement stabilized the truce, outlined steps to merge the YPG with Syrian state institutions, and addressed Kurdish civil rights and the return of displaced residents.

Türkiye, which has carried out cross-border operations into northern Syria against PKK/YPG terrorists from 2016 to 2019, has welcomed the agreement as a step toward Syria’s territorial unity but has expressed continued concern that terrorist networks may try to exploit the transition. Ankara stresses that the YPG must be fully disarmed and held accountable to prevent any re-emergence of threats.

Türkiye continues to maintain that the removal of PKK/YPG terrorists is essential not only for Syria’s stability but also for regional security. Officials have emphasized that areas cleared of terrorist groups in northern Syria now allow residents to live freely, move safely, and rebuild normal daily life, an experience mirrored in Raqqa for the first time in years.

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Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz met with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand in Ankara on Tuesday to discuss bilateral ties and regional developments.

The meeting took place at the Presidential Complex and was also attended by Deputy Foreign Minister Ambassador Levent Gümrükçü, according to Turkish officials.

In a statement shared on social media, Yılmaz said the talks focused on enhancing cooperation in key areas such as energy, trade and defense, while also addressing broader regional and global issues.

He warned that a prolonged conflict risks deepening instability. “The continuation of war increases destruction and carries the risk of deepening hostilities, in addition to its economic and social impacts,” Yılmaz said.

He added that Türkiye is working to prevent further escalation in the region and to promote diplomatic solutions. “As Türkiye, we are mobilizing all our means to prevent rising tensions in our region, strengthen channels of diplomacy and dialogue, and open pathways to peace,” he said.

Yılmaz also thanked Anand for what he described as her constructive contributions during the visit.

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Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza continues unabated, with civilians facing ongoing violence, displacement and deepening shortages of basic necessities due to Israel’s cease-fire violations.

Speaking at a joint news conference with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, Fidan said the conflict is spreading beyond Iran, warning that it has begun to expand into Lebanon and is becoming increasingly complex in Iraq. He stressed that Türkiye is intensifying efforts to help lift the “calamity” affecting the Islamic world.

Fidan also criticized Israel’s assassinations of Iranian officials, calling them illegal acts that violate international law and must come to an end.

He warned that if the Middle East war spreads, it could create a “permanent” refugee crisis, as Israel’s bombardment in Lebanon alone had displaced over a million people.

“If the war… spreads, there is a possibility this will turn into a permanent refugee crisis with refugees seeking shelter outside the borders of their countries,” Fidan said and added:

“This needs to stop as soon as possible.”

He announced that he will begin regional visits starting Wednesday to discuss steps to halt the war, share President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s messages and present Türkiye’s proposals for achieving lasting peace in the region.

Fidan added that he has been in contact with numerous Western and Eastern counterparts to exchange views and assess the situation, emphasizing that the shared goal is a region where all countries live in security and sovereignty, including the establishment of a Palestinian state. He said Türkiye remains committed to working with determination toward a vision of lasting peace, stability and coexistence in the region.

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The trial of 41 defendants, including suspended Antalya Mayor Muhittin Böcek, began Monday in southern Türkiye in a wide-ranging corruption and bribery case tied to alleged irregularities within the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality.

The first hearing was held at the Antalya 6th High Criminal Court, where Böcek appeared alongside several co-defendants, including his son Mustafa Gökhan Böcek and Ilker Arslan, a former senior official in the Antalya Police Department who had been suspended from duty.

Five of the defendants are currently in custody. The hearing began with the verification of identities and the reading of a summary of the indictment.

Several members of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), including Deputy Chair Gökan Zeybek and a number of lawmakers, attended the hearing along with Antalya Deputy Mayor Büşra Özdemir, the defendants’ relatives and numerous observers.

The case stems from a corruption investigation coordinated by the Antalya Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. Authorities launched the probe in 2025 into allegations of bribery, abuse of influence and financial misconduct involving municipal officials and business figures.

Böcek and his former daughter-in-law, identified by the initials Z.K., were detained on July 5, 2025. Böcek was later arrested and removed from his position as mayor by the Interior Ministry. Z.K. was released under judicial supervision with a travel ban.

Investigators determined that Böcek’s son, Mustafa Gökhan Böcek, had been abroad at the time of the initial detentions. He was taken into custody and arrested on Aug. 19, 2025, after returning to Antalya from Vienna.

The investigation expanded over the following months through a series of coordinated police operations targeting suspects connected to the municipality, including businesspeople and municipal officials.

Authorities allege that irregular financial transactions carried out through a municipal company caused approximately 399.5 million Turkish liras (nearly $10 million) in public losses.

Several suspects were detained and later arrested in multiple waves of operations between August 2025 and January 2026. Some individuals were subsequently released after cooperating with investigators under provisions related to effective remorse in Turkish law.

The indictment accepted by the Antalya 6th High Criminal Court accuses the defendants of a range of offenses, including bribery through coercion, illicit enrichment, influence peddling, money laundering, aggravated fraud and defamation.

Prosecutors are seeking prison sentences of between 15 years and six months to 44 years for Böcek on charges including coercive bribery, unjust enrichment and laundering of assets derived from criminal activity.

The indictment also calls for increased penalties under provisions related to repeated or organized offenses.

Court proceedings are expected to continue in the coming months as judges hear testimony from defendants, witnesses and legal representatives.

The operation was launched following claims that unlawful expenditures were carried out through the Infrastructure Management and Consultancy Trade Inc. (ALDAŞ), a municipally owned infrastructure management and consultancy subsidiary and Antalya Water and Wastewater Administration (ASAT).

According to the investigation file, reports prepared by a chief civil inspector appointed by the Interior Ministry and expert assessments commissioned by prosecutors concluded that irregular transactions carried out through ALDAŞ resulted in public losses totaling millions of Turkish liras.

The majority of domestic and international travel expenses incurred by officials from ASAT and the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality were paid by ALDAŞ, even though many of the trips lacked official assignment records. Prosecutors said some individuals whose flights were paid for had no professional connection to either ALDAŞ or ASAT, amounting to what investigators described as indirect embezzlement of public funds.

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