This article contains investigative reporting that follows up on, Silenced Turkey – A Retrospective on Gender-Based Violences, first reported and published by Cassandra Skolnick in 2022.
On May 14, 2023, for the first time in Turkish history, a presidential election was sent into a run-off with neither candidate securing at least 50% of the vote. On May 28, 2023, Incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan won his re-election bid, though the necessity for a run-off election has been viewed as an indicator of growing dissent among Turkish civilians against Mr. Erdoğan and his Justice and Development (AK) Party. Since 2001, Mr. Erdoğan and the AK Party have demonstrated extensive political capabilities in Turkey, and despite elections being free, their influence has kept them far from fair.
The 2024 local elections demonstrated a potential for change, even in this constricting environment. On March 31, 2024, Easter Sunday, Mr. Erdoğan was dealt major blows as opposition leaders from the Republican People’s Party (CHP) claimed political victories across key cities where Mr. Erdoğan campaigned heavily, including Istanbul and Ankara. This has signified what can only be described as a democratic rebound in Turkey. On a day when Christians commemorate the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, are we witnessing Turkish civilians rise up from nearly a decade of authoritarian rule, economic distress, and cultural oppression, to reclaim their country?