Watchdog warns Türkiye damaging democracy as opposition members arrested

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ISTANBUL: A prominent rights watchdog has warned that Türkiye is severely damaging its democracy through ‘abusive tactics’ aimed at systematically dismantling the country's main political opposition. 

Human Rights Watch strongly condemned the government's actions, calling them a devastating blow to the rule of law and fundamental human rights.

The urgent warning was triggered after thirteen members of the secular, centrist Republican People’s Party (CHP) were arrested across several provinces on Saturday. Organized by the prosecutor's office, the coordinated raids targeted regional figures under controversial allegations of violating political party laws and financial crimes.

These latest sweeps closely follow an Ankara appeals court decision on Thursday that abruptly annulled the CHP's 2023 congress results, effectively ousting elected party head Ozgur Ozel. The court contentiously reinstated former leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu as interim chair, a move the opposition slammed as a judicial coup.

Independent observers note this escalating legal offensive is part of a broader campaign by President Erdogan’s administration to neutralize political rivals. It follows the ongoing imprisonment of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu the party's top presidential contender sparking widespread street protests across Ankara and Istanbul