Turkish artists face pressure amid government crackdown on opposition

A government crackdown on Turkey’s opposition following the arrest of Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu has ensnared members of the culture community, including Mahir Polat, head of the municipality’s cultural heritage department, and photographer Murat Germen. Mass protests have erupted across the country, with hundreds of thousands marching against what they see as rising authoritarianism under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Artists and cultural figures face censorship, detention, and prosecution for expressing political views, while independent institutions bear the risk of critical discourse.