Mahmut Tanal has recently earned fame among a younger generation of Turkish citizens, but he has been dedicated to advocacy for a long time.
Mahmut Tanal repeated several times alongside the students as the intervention with the TOMA continued: “What is the TOMA doing at ODTÜ?”
Mahmut Tanal: A Timeline of Rights Advocacy and Activism
Mahmut Tanal, currently serving as CHP Şanlıurfa MP, has recently gained widespread attention on social media for his activism during the protests following Ekrem İmamoğlu’s detention. However, his advocacy work spans more than a decade, with a consistent focus on human rights, legal protections, and social justice. His recent surge in popularity prompted him to remark, “I’ve been a member of parliament for five terms and have always maintained the same principles. Young people have just discovered me now, which may explain the increased interest”110.
Early Political Career and Foundational Advocacy
Mahmut Tanal was born in 1961 in Şanlıurfa’s Hilfan district and graduated from Istanbul University’s Law Faculty. Before entering politics, he worked as a registered lawyer with the Istanbul Bar Association10. His political career began in 2011 when he was first elected as a CHP Istanbul MP, marking the start of his parliamentary advocacy work10.
During the early years of his political career, Tanal established himself as an outspoken defender of civil liberties. In 2013, he brought police interventions during the Gezi Park protests to the parliamentary agenda, setting a precedent for his hands-on approach to activism10. This period laid the groundwork for what would become his signature style of advocacy – being physically present at protests and directly engaging with affected communities.
The TOMA Protests and Direct Action
Tanal gained significant attention in 2014 when he climbed onto a TOMA (riot control vehicle) to prevent police intervention against protesters demonstrating after a construction accident that killed 10 workers in Istanbul’s Mecidiyeköy1014. This act of physical intervention to protect protesters became one of his recognizable tactics.
The following year, in 2015, he again climbed onto a TOMA during Istanbul Pride march when police attempted to disperse the annual LGBTI+ gathering10. Such direct actions distinguished him from other parliamentarians who might limit their advocacy to verbal statements or parliamentary procedures.
Advocacy for Marginalized Communities
LGBTI+ Rights Advocacy
Tanal has consistently stood up for LGBTI+ rights throughout his career. In July 2015, following an assault case against trans activist Kemal Ördek, Tanal submitted a parliamentary question to the Minister of Interior addressing both the rape case and subsequent police mistreatment of the victim3.
In 2014, he made a notable statement about transgender individuals, highlighting that there was inadequate legal protection against discrimination for trans people in Turkey7. His advocacy extended beyond parliamentary questions to physical presence at pride events, demonstrating his commitment to visibility for LGBTI+ issues.
The Şenyaşar Family Case
Between 2020 and 2021, Tanal took up the cause of the Şenyaşar family, who were seeking justice after losing multiple family members in an attack involving relatives of AKP MP İbrahim Halil Yıldız2. He applied to the Parliamentary Human Rights Commission requesting an on-site examination of the family’s allegations and the obstacles they faced during their “Justice Watch” protest outside the Urfa courthouse2.
In December 2022, Tanal revealed that Fadıl Şenyaşar, who was imprisoned, had previously been registered as a member of the AKP party, exposing what he considered political hypocrisy in the case6. This advocacy highlighted his willingness to challenge powerful political interests in defense of justice.
Legal System and Prisoners’ Rights
Tanal has been a consistent advocate for fair treatment within Turkey’s legal and prison systems. In January 2021, he raised concerns when bar association chairs were prevented from entering Ankara to protest amendments to the Attorneys’ Act4. The Ombudsman Institution later concluded that the intervention violated their freedom of assembly and expression, validating Tanal’s concerns4.
In March 2025, he raised urgent concerns about conditions in Silivri Prison, particularly regarding the closed canteen and lack of basic necessities for inmates. In his social media post, he stated: “Peki o zamana kadar mahpuslar temel ihtiyaçlarını nasıl karşılayacak? Suları bitmiş, hijyen ürünleri yok, temel insani ihtiyaçları karşılanamıyor!”9 (How will prisoners meet their basic needs until then? They’ve run out of water, have no hygiene products, and cannot meet their basic human needs!).
Children’s Rights Advocacy
As a member of the Parliamentary Child Rights Sub-Commission, Tanal has been vocal about protecting children’s rights. In November 2024, on World Children’s Rights Day, he issued a statement highlighting persistent problems in Turkey, including child labor, particularly among seasonal agricultural workers in Şanlıurfa11.
In April 2025, he criticized prepared questions for children at a Sub-Commission Meeting of the Child Rights Sub-Commission, demonstrating his concern for authentic child participation rather than orchestrated interactions5.
Recent High-Profile Activism (2025)
Advocacy During the İmamoğlu Protests
Tanal’s most recent surge in public recognition came during the protests following Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu’s detention and arrest in March 2025. During these events, he attempted to breach police barricades at Çağlayan Courthouse14 and engaged with youth protesters in Saraçhane who were demonstrating after İmamoğlu’s arrest18.
Despite reporting injuries during these protests, he continued his advocacy work the same evening, showing his dedication14. His presence at multiple locations during the protests – from ODTÜ (Middle East Technical University) to courthouses in Ankara and Istanbul – demonstrated his comprehensive approach to monitoring legal proceedings and supporting protesters110.
In April 2025, he took his advocacy a step further by spending the night in front of the Ministry of Justice in a protest vigil for detained students and youth following the İmamoğlu protests1. As he stated on social media: “Ülkemizin hukuku için nöbetteyiz” (We are on watch for our country’s legal system)1.
Speaking Out Against Systemic Issues
On April 12, 2025, Tanal spoke at a panel organized by the Izmir Bar Association titled “Fascism’s Target: Bar Associations and Lawyers,” where he criticized the current system, stating: “Bu sistemin değişmesi lazım. Güçlendirilmiş parlamenter sistemin dışında da başka bir şekilde bu ülke ne huzura kavuşur, ne mutluğa”8 (This system needs to change. Without a strengthened parliamentary system, this country will find neither peace nor happiness).
On April 30, 2025, he criticized early morning police operations as “a shame in the name of constitution, law and human rights,” arguing that secret files were being used to intimidate society17.
Mahmut Tanal’s advocacy spans over a decade and covers a remarkable breadth of human rights issues, from LGBTI+ rights to legal system reforms, children’s rights, and political prisoners. His approach combines formal parliamentary actions with direct physical presence at protests and demonstrations, making him uniquely visible among Turkish politicians.
While his recent prominence in social media discussions may be new, his commitment to human rights advocacy has been consistent throughout his career. As he self-identifies, “I am a human rights activist. Where there is injustice, regardless of gender, philosophical thought, color, or race, my compass is justice”110. This guiding principle has defined his career and explains his presence across so many different social justice causes in Turkey.
His viral moments
Mahmut Tanal has become a social media phenomenon in Turkey, especially during the 2025 wave of pro-democracy protests. His unique style of direct action, colorful confrontations, and physical presence at demonstrations have made him a subject of viral videos and memes. Below is a list of his most notable viral moments, as documented in both Turkish and English sources:
On April 23, 2025, during a CHP rally at the historic First Parliament, Tanal climbed onto a TIR (truck) that police were using to block the party’s event. He confronted officers, demanding to see “the Republic’s police” and “the Republic’s governor,” insisting that celebrations of the Republic should not be obstructed. Videos of him atop the truck, passionately addressing security forces, spread rapidly on social media and news platforms56.
On April 23, 2025, Tanal was filmed using pliers to cut off police handcuffs placed on a protester during a demonstration for National Sovereignty and Children’s Day. This act of defiance was widely shared and discussed as a symbol of resistance3.
During the student-led protests at Middle East Technical University (ODTÜ), Tanal was seen interacting with a TOMA (riot control vehicle), engaging in lighthearted and humorous moments with students. These clips, showing him joking and riding with students, garnered tens of thousands of likes and became emblematic of his approachable, activist persona1215.
In March 2025, Tanal made headlines and went viral after attempting to break through police barricades at the Çağlayan Courthouse during the mass protests following İstanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu’s arrest. He was injured in the process, and footage of the incident circulated widely, further boosting his public profile8.
In 2014, Tanal became nationally known for climbing onto a TOMA to stop police from intervening against protesters after a deadly construction accident in Mecidiyeköy. The image of him standing atop the vehicle remains one of his most iconic and enduring viral moments10.
Tanal’s fiery speeches in the Turkish Grand National Assembly, where he often addresses the media and criticizes government officials, have been widely shared on platforms like Instagram and YouTube. For example, his recent rebuke of police chiefs for laughing during a press statement was viewed thousands of times within hours14.
Tanal’s commentary comparing the treatment of protesters in Turkey to those in Palestine went viral on TikTok, highlighting his ability to draw international parallels and connect with younger audiences7.
Tanal’s presence at the Çağlayan Courthouse during the detention of actor Cem Yiğit Üzümoğlu and his public statements against the government’s crackdown on artists and protesters were widely covered and shared, cementing his reputation as a defender of freedom of expression2.
Clips of Tanal “chasing” riot police or gendarmes, breaking through barriers, and his playful interactions with protesters have become meme material, with TikTok and Instagram users remixing his actions into humorous or inspirational content81215.
These moments illustrate Mahmut Tanal’s transformation from a long-serving parliamentarian to a viral symbol of resistance and rights advocacy in contemporary Turkey. His actions have resonated especially with younger generations, who have amplified his image across digital platforms.
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