The Turkish government denounces the opposition’s call for mass commercial boycott in protest over the arrest of its mayor who has sparked a protest movement across the country describing the move as “attempted sabotage”.
Following the arrest and imprisonment of Ekrem Imamoglu, the People’s Republican Party called on a boycott of goods and services of companies who maintain relations with his government.
The call was expanded to include overall boycott on the market for one day, leading some stores to close in protest of arrest, which they consider a political and undemocratic blow to the Turkish opposition.
Erem Imamoglu is Erdogan’s main political opponent and received the opposition candidate in the next presidential election.
Commerce Minister Omer Bolat said he was a threat to financial stability and accused the organizers of attempting to undermine the government.
‘In vain attempt of circles that consider this country’s main ones’
“This is an attempt to sabotage in the economy and includes unfair trade and competition. We treat it as a vain attempt to circle that they consider themselves to be the main ones of this country. “
Vice -President Jevett Yilmaz said that the call threatens social harmony and economic stability and is doomed to failure.
Members of the government and celebrities that support the government, including Mesut Ozil, the Real Madrid player, used the hashtag #boykotdegilmillizar (NO boycott, but national damage).
The leader of the People’s Republican Party Ozgur Ozel encouraged the protest rallies that spread throughout Turkey and addressed the boycott.
Yesterday, prosecutors launched investigation against persons supporting the media in the media and social networks.
The Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office has announced that it is investigating calls that seek to prevent part of the public from having economic activities for a possible violation of laws “rhetorical hatred and motion of hatred and hostility”.
