Turkey’s government is trying to repress its way out of a crisis

IT WAS the biggest opposition rally in years. Hundreds of thousands of people came out in Istanbul on March 29th to demand the release of Turkey’s best-known recent political prisoner, Ekrem Imamoglu. The country’s news media rose to the challenge: the state broadcaster offered tips for prospective home owners. One channel showed traffic police handing out sweets to drivers. Another featured chefs preparing snacks for the Eid al-Fitr holiday.