After the mayor\u2019s arrest, Turkey\u2019s opposition CHP urged a boycott of firms linked to President Erdogan\u2019s government
\n istanbul
\nTurkey\u2019s government denounced opposition calls for a mass commercial boycott following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu that sparked nationwide protests, describing them on Wednesday as an economic \u201csabotage attempt\u201d.
\nAfter the mayor was detained two weeks ago, the main opposition Republican People\u2019s Party (CHP) had called for a boycott of goods and services from companies with perceived ties to President Tayyip Erdogan\u2019s government.
\nThat call widened on Wednesday to include a halt to all shopping for one day, prompting some shops to close in solidarity with those criticising the arrest as an anti-democratic attempt to hurt the opposition\u2019s electoral prospects.
\nImamoglu is Erdogan\u2019s main political rival and the CHP\u2019s presidential candidate for any future election.
\nTrade Minister Omer Bolat said boycott calls posed a threat to economic stability and accused those advocating them of seeking to undermine the government.
\nThey \u201care an attempt to sabotage the economy and include unfair trade and competition elements. We see this as a futile attempt by circles who consider themselves the masters of this country,\u201d Bolat said.
\nOn Wednesday, Bolat gave an interview to state broadcaster TRT, focusing solely on the boycott.
\n\u201cI have a call for our citizens. If you have any shopping plans for today, tomorrow, the day after, or in the coming days, we strongly encourage you to make your purchases and conduct your business today,\u201d he said, before appearing on other TV channels to repeat the same messages.
\nSeveral cabinet ministers and pro-government celebrities, including former Germany and Real Madrid soccer midfielder Mesut Ozil, used the hashtag #BoykotDegilMilliZarar (\u201cNot a Boycott, but National Damage\u201d) to emphasize their stance.
\nThe calls have been led by CHP chairman Ozgur Ozel, who has encouraged the street protests that have swollen to the largest in Turkey in more than a decade. Erdogan has called the protests \u201cevil\u201d and said they would not last
\nIn Istanbul and Ankara, empty tables lined usually busy caf\u00e9s, and several shops reported a significant drop in customers.
\nHayrettin, a shopowner in central Istanbul who didn\u2019t want to give his surname, defended the boycott, saying it was necessary to send a message to the government.
\n\u201cThe boycott is the right decision. It should have happened sooner. It\u2019s something we need to do, people need to show their reaction. If they (the government) continue this way, the country is getting worse,\u201d he said, adding that his neighbouring shops heeded the call.
\nTurkey\u2019s economy has been hit by a years-long cost of living crisis and series of currency crashes, with growth having slowed and inflation still lofty at 39% in February.
\nOn Tuesday prosecutors launched an investigation into those advocating the boycott calls on social and traditional media.
\nThe Istanbul chief prosecutor\u2019s office said it was probing calls that allegedly sought to prevent a segment of the public from engaging in economic activity, citing possible violations of laws against hate speech and inciting public hostility.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
After the mayor\u2019s arrest, Turkey\u2019s opposition CHP urged a boycott of firms linked to President Erdogan\u2019s government istanbul Turkey\u2019s government denounced opposition calls for a mass commercial boycott following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu that sparked nationwide protests, describing them on Wednesday as an economic \u201csabotage attempt\u201d. After the mayor was detained two […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":470246,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-470237","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n