Police raided the headquarters of the NPP, Turkey's main opposition party, in Istanbul, where MPs had barricaded themselves. Protests are banned until Wednesday, September 10, and access to social media is being slowed down.

The pressure on the Republican People's Party (CHP), Turkey's main opposition party, continues to mount and is unlikely to ease in the coming days.

While police raided its headquarters on Sunday evening and Monday (September 7 and 8), the Istanbul governorate announced a ban on gatherings until Wednesday in several areas of the city, and access to social media was hampered.

The organisation NetBlocks confirmed delays in access to X, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and WhatsApp, with access sometimes only possible via VPN.

The chairman of the Supreme Council for Audiovisual Media (RTÜK) also put pressure on journalists on social media.

"Spreading unverified information live is an irresponsible act that can cause panic and misinformation," he wrote, threatening to impose sanctions.

These scenes of violence follow a court ruling on Tuesday, September 2, which annulled the party's last congress in Istanbul due to suspicions of fraud and led to the removal of the leader of the party organization in Istanbul and his team.

The decision has been challenged by the opposition. While the arrival of the administrator, a former party official appointed to replace Yozgur Celik, was announced for September 8, the party's youth organization called for a meeting at headquarters, a call that was followed by the party's elected representatives.

During the night, party members and supporters tried to prevent the administrator from entering the CHP building. He eventually managed to enter with the help of the police.

Videos shared on social media show the use of violence and tear gas inside the building, causing panic. The police also made arrests, and one MP was hospitalized.

Yozur Çelik and other members and supporters of the HDP barricaded themselves on the third floor of the building. Photos shared on social media show access blocked with furniture. Turkish media explained that the administrator was on the second floor of the building, just below Yozgur Çelik's team.

As the opposition faces increasing pressure, especially after the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a key rival of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on March 19, this latest court ruling is causing concern, especially given that it may turn out to be just a "dress rehearsal."

Another case is expected on September 15, this time potentially removing CHP leader Yozgur Ozel.

In anticipation of this, the CHP has already convened an extraordinary national assembly on September 21, and on September 24, a meeting of its Istanbul branch.

To defend itself, the CHP also announced during the day that it was closing its Istanbul branch headquarters to move it to another part of the city.

"Istanbul has 39 districts...," the party wrote on X, hinting that it could change its address again if necessary.

Yozgur Çelik played his last card, calling for the celebration of the 102nd anniversary of the party's founding by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk around the monument dedicated to him in Taksim Square.

This square, which is highly symbolic, is closed to all demonstrations. If the CHP manages to gather its supporters there, in the current context this would be an important political event, even if it is not officially considered a demonstration. | BGNES