Demonstrations that broke out throughout Turkey after the detention of Istanbul’s opposition mayor — who was the primary rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan — shifted course on Wednesday with demands for a 24-hour shopping strike.

The student organizations responsible for this request likewise encouraged companies to shut down operations on Wednesday.

Massive demonstrations against the government commenced the previous month following the imprisonment of Ekrem İmamoğlu, who is charged with corruption and terrorism; however, many believe these accusations have been politically driven. The administration maintains that the judicial system operates independently without any political influence.

The party led by Imamoglu backed the call for a boycott.

“Everyone is encouraged to participate in this boycott and utilize the influence derived from spending,” stated Ozgur Ozel, the leader of the Republican People’s Party, also known as CHP, via social media.

Ozel urged individuals to boycott businesses that he claimed backed the government, with a focus on media organizations that chose not to broadcast visuals of mass demonstrations calling for Imamoglu’s release and resisting the erosion of democracy.

The student-led boycott garnered an immediate reaction from the authorities.

Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya described it as “sabotage” and termed it an attempted coup against our economy,” whereas Trade Minister Omer Bolat stated that businesses experiencing financial setbacks due to this could seek compensation from those instigating the boycott.

Bolat shared photos of his shopping trip on social media, accompanied by remarks indicating it was a “day for supporting the national economy.”

The chief of Turkey’s media regulatory body mentioned potential measures against news outlets that promoted a boycott. Previously, last week, the agency imposed a 10-day suspension on a station affiliated with the opposition and also levied penalties along with halting certain programs at other stations.

On Tuesday, the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor’s Office initiated a criminal investigation into the opposition’s calls for a boycott.

Rifat Hisarciklioglu, the president of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey, stated that it was incorrect to single out businesses for criticism. He emphasized that these entities ought to remain outside of political debates.

In the meantime, the CEO of an event management firm, who sparked outrage among demonstrators by referring to them as ” traitors,” declared that they were canceling all upcoming shows. This decision affected performances planned for later this year, which included appearances by British musicians Robbie Williams and Muse, along with Norwegian artist Ane Brun.

Imamoglu, in a social media update from the jail where he has been detained since March 23, claimed that European officials were beginning to distance themselves from Turkey.

The European Commission withdrew from participating in the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, and European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos stated that she had also canceled her scheduled meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

Imamoglu, who is incarcerated, has been officially named the CHP’s presidential nominee in an election originally set for 2028 but expected to occur sooner.

As reported by the independent ANKA News Agency, approximately 2,000 individuals have been detained since Imamoglu’s arrest on March 19. Among them, 316 remain in custody awaiting trial. The majority of these detainees are charged with involvement in protests.

Attorneys representing detained demonstrators claimed on Wednesday that their clients were subjected to beatings by law enforcement officers, denied sustenance and hydration, restrained with handcuffs for extended durations, and prevented from contacting legal representatives and family members.

The Istanbul-based Lawyer’s Voice Initiative stated that many students experienced bruising, while another reported numbness in his arm as a result of physical abuse. Additionally, they mentioned that a female student sustained fractured ribs.

The Turkish government has not addressed these allegations.