Turkey Finds 'Espionage' in Opposition, US Cheers on Democracy
Turkey’s courts have officially charged Istanbul’s popular opposition mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, with ‘political espionage’ following his March arrest. This, of course, after he dramatically beat Erdoğan's party in 2019, securing the city's leadership. The move, widely condemned as a political maneuver to sideline a formidable rival, barely registers a ripple beyond the usual diplomatic statements.
One might wonder if the outcry would be amplified if the alleged 'espionage' involved, say, sharing plans on how to improve infrastructure, rather than, perhaps, military secrets of an oil-rich nation. Meanwhile, the US State Department issues its standard 'deeply concerned' statements, yet continues to sanction countries that don't toe a very specific line. But for a key NATO ally like Turkey,
whose government just green-lit Sweden's NATO bid, the definition of 'democracy' appears remarkably flexible. It seems that jailing political opponents for 'espionage' is tolerable as long as the geopolitical chessboard remains in check. How many 'opposition leaders' must be silenced before the 'democracy agenda' becomes more than just a convenient talking point?