So what happened on the April 2 boycott?
Here are the developments related to the April 2 boycott organized by the Turkish opposition:
- Call for Boycott:
– The Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader, Özgür Özel, called for a nationwide boycott on April 2 in response to the jailing of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and student demonstrators[1][3].
– The boycott aimed to halt all purchases for a day, including from supermarkets, online shopping, restaurants, petrol stations, and more[1].
- Government Response:
– The government condemned the boycott as an attempt to sabotage the economy and disrupt public peace[2][3].
– Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya labeled it a “coup attempt” against the Turkish economy[4][8].
– Trade Minister Ömer Bolat urged citizens to increase spending to counter the boycott[3][4].
- Public Reaction:
– Many citizens refused to participate in the boycott, showing support for national businesses and the economy[2].
– Social media campaigns like #TimeforNationalSupport and #NotBoycottButNationalHarm emerged to counter the boycott[2].
- Investigations and Detentions:
– Prosecutors launched an investigation into calls for the boycott, citing potential violations of laws against hate speech and inciting public hostility[3][5].
– At least 11 people were detained for spreading boycott calls, with warrants issued for more suspects[5][6].
- Business Impact:
– Some businesses, including cafes and restaurants, closed in solidarity with the boycott, while others remained open[5][7].
– The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) criticized the boycott as harmful to domestic businesses[3].
- Political Tensions:
– The boycott heightened tensions between the opposition and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP)[3][4].
– The CHP accused the government of hypocrisy, pointing to past boycotts supported by President Erdoğan[3][8].
Citations:
Several actors and actresses have faced repercussions for supporting the opposition-led boycott in Turkey:
– She was dismissed from the TRT series Teşkilat after expressing support for the boycott on social media[1][3][4].
– TRT stated that her actions violated their principles and professional ethics[1].
- Cem Yiğit Üzümoğlu:
– He was detained for promoting the boycott on social media. Üzümoğlu is known for his roles in Şakir Paşa Ailesi and Netflix’s Rise of Empires: Ottoman[2][3][5][7].
– His detention drew solidarity from the Actors’ Union, which argued that boycotts are a form of constitutionally protected protest[3][5].
- Rojda Demirer and Alican Yücesoy:
– Both actors had their X accounts blocked in Turkey by court order after they expressed support for the boycott[4][5].
These actions reflect the government’s efforts to suppress public support for the opposition’s boycott initiatives.
Citations:
Answer from Perplexity: pplx.ai/share
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