Feb 18, 2026
Bilal Bilici
and Eric A. Baldwin
The detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu in Turkey is a classic example of democratic backsliding. Using legal institutions and procedures to shape who can run, who can speak, and who can organize has become the preferred method for limiting political competition while retaining the veneer of democracy.
ANKARA – Last March, a Turkish court jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu pending a trial on corruption charges. While Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s regime has denied any political motivation, arguing that the judiciary is independent, many have recognized it as a classic example of democratic backsliding: detain the popular opposition leader and dress it up as law enforcement. The move triggered nationwide protests on a scale not seen in more than a decade.
