We can emulate Orpheus and sing on in the face of horror, and not stop singing until the tide turns, and a better day begins.” Salman Rushdie
İstanbul has been witnessing mass protests after the unlawful detention of İstanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on March 17, 2025. Millions from all walks of life took the streets chanting with slogans asking the government to resign and to return to the rule of law.
The streets of İstanbul are full of peaceful and vibrant protestors with creative slogans! Especially young people who were only children during the Gezi Protests during 2013 are filling the streets.
There are hundreds of thousands of people at Saraçhane where the İstanbul Municipality resides each night for a ‘democracy watch’ and mass protests against the government.
Masses gathered around Saraçhane İstanbul Municipality Building
Here is a video showing the prominent Turkish musician Zülfi Livaneli singing for the detained İstanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu this Saturday along with thousands who are there to protect the rule of law.
I want to end with a song of rebellion by Duman. The song ‘Kufi’ was released last year as a defiance against the unlawful rule of the current government! This concert had taken place in the Küçükçiftlik Park in İstanbul on the 29h of June, 2024. The lyrics are strong and humorous and Duman is as mesmerising as ever!
And one last word. They shall go and we shall remain!
