Will Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's calculations not turn out to be wrong? After the arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu, mayor of Istanbul and presidential candidate from the opposition Republican People's Party, people took to the streets en masse - and not only in Istanbul. Among them is Imamoglu's wife - Dilek. In her speeches during the demonstrations, she addresses the president directly: "He will beat you, you will lose! The injustice against Ekrem touches every conscience".
For now, however, it seems that the loser is her husband Ekrem Imamoglu, who is in custody and can no longer fulfill his duties as mayor of Istanbul. Will his wife now continue his political work? And who is the woman who is already considered a political icon in Turkey?
Dilek İmamoğlu's causes
Dilek İmamoğlu was born in 1974 in the Turkish port city of Trabzon. She met her husband in Istanbul, and in 1995, when she was 21, she married the charismatic Ekrem İmamoğlu. They had three children.
A passion for politics has always been characteristic of the family. Dilek İmamoğlu deals with women's issues and discrimination against minorities both on a volunteer basis and at an academic level. In her master's thesis at the Department of Public Administration at "Kadir Has" University in Istanbul, she describes the "glass ceiling" syndrome - the invisible barriers that prevent women and minorities from reaching leadership positions.
Since her husband's victory in the 2019 Istanbul local elections, Dilek İmamoğlu has been committed primarily to the rights of people with disabilities. One example: she spent an entire day touring Istanbul in a wheelchair to highlight the difficulties faced by people with disabilities.
"She is very strong"
Women and young people in particular interpret Dilek İmamoğlu's appearances on the political stage as a display of courage and unwavering faith in democracy. Many of her supporters are convinced that Dilek is capable of continuing her husband's political work.
"She is very strong and should run against Erdoğan. "We support her - we stand behind her and Ekrem Imamoglu," say women listening to her during a demonstration in Istanbul's Saraçhane Square.
The next elections in Turkey are actually far away - they are not due until 2028. But both the government and the opposition clearly have good reasons to bet on early elections. Because if the date is brought forward, Erdogan could run again. According to the Turkish constitution, he will not be able to do so on the regular date in 2028. This rule can only be overturned by changing the constitution, which requires a two-thirds majority in the Turkish parliament. As for the opposition Republican People's Party - in view of the current crisis, it would definitely benefit from an early election.
"Dilek is the backbone of our family"
The demonstrators in "Sarachane" Square are hungry for Dilek İmamoğlu's messages. Every time she takes the stage, the majority applaud her wildly. And the fact that she not only supports her husband, but also includes important social messages in her speeches, increases her popularity even more.
"Dilek İmamoğlu's decisive behavior is an example for all women and an inspiration for the resistance. It shows how unwavering her position against tyranny is," a protester told DW. "If an alternative candidate for the Republican People's Party needs to be nominated, it should be Dilek İmamoğlu," another woman added. And in an interview with "Cumhuriyet TV" her husband Ekrem described Dilek İmamoğlu as follows: "Dilek is the backbone of our family. She is not only my wife, but also my biggest supporter".
Authors: Pelin Junker | Erkan Arikan