Arrests and Judicial Probes Spark Fear of a New Turkey Crackdown

Turkey is no stranger to political crackdowns. But a wave of arrests and investigations since the turn of the year, which ensnared national politicians, journalists, a celebrity agent and the mayor of Istanbul, have left some observers second guessing the motivations of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The detentions — on charges including “insulting the president” and involvement in a decade old anti-government protest — come as Erdogan’s top ally and his party’s spokesman have voiced open support for him to serve a third term beyond 2028, which could need constitutional change. It’s a strategy that appears focused on dividing the opposition, which closed the gap on Erdogan’s AK Party in recent local elections, and silencing dissent, say analysts.