Turkey protests after political rival jailed: BBC Learning English from the News

TL;DR

Protests erupt in Turkey after Erdogan's rival is jailed.

Transcript

From BBC Learning English. This is Learning English from the News, our podcast about the news headlines. In this programme: Seventh day of protests in Turkey after president's main rival jailed. Hello, I'm Georgie. And I'm Phil. In this programme we look at one big news story and the vocabulary in the headlines that will help you understand it. You... Read More

Key Insights

• Ekrem Imamoglu, Istanbul's mayor, has been jailed on corruption charges, sparking seven days of protests in Turkey.
• Imamoglu is viewed as a key political rival to President Erdogan, who has been in power since 2003.
• The main opposition party has declared Imamoglu their candidate for the 2028 presidential election despite his annulled university degree.
• President Erdogan has criticized the protests, describing them as 'evil' and blaming opposition parties.
• The expression 'hit out at' is used to describe Erdogan's strong criticism of the protests.
• International reactions to Erdogan's actions have been muted, with the EU expressing mild concern and the US labeling it an internal issue.
• The term 'turn a blind eye to' suggests that Erdogan is betting on the world ignoring the turmoil in Turkey.
• The phrase 'authoritarian turn' is used to describe Turkey's perceived shift towards more authoritarian governance under Erdogan.

Questions & Answers

Q: What triggered the protests in Turkey?

The protests in Turkey were triggered by the jailing of Istanbul's mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, on corruption charges. Imamoglu is a significant political rival to President Erdogan, and his imprisonment has led to public unrest and demonstrations across the country, lasting for seven days.

Q: How has President Erdogan responded to the protests?

President Erdogan has responded to the protests by describing them as 'evil' and placing the blame on opposition parties. He has used the expression 'hit out at' to strongly criticize the protests and those involved, suggesting a metaphorical attack rather than a physical one.

Q: What is the international reaction to Imamoglu's arrest?

The international reaction to Imamoglu's arrest has been relatively muted. The European Union has issued a statement saying the arrest 'raises questions' but stopped short of condemnation. Meanwhile, the United States State Department has viewed it as an internal issue for Turkey to resolve.

Q: What does the phrase 'turn a blind eye to' mean in this context?

In the context of this news story, 'turn a blind eye to' refers to President Erdogan's expectation that the international community will ignore the turmoil and protests in Turkey. It implies a deliberate choice to overlook or disregard the unrest and potential violations occurring in the country.

Q: What is meant by 'authoritarian turn'?

The term 'authoritarian turn' refers to a perceived shift in Turkey's governance towards more authoritarian practices under President Erdogan. This includes restricting political opponents and concentrating power in the hands of the president, as suggested by the jailing of his political rival, Imamoglu.

Q: How has Imamoglu's political future been affected by recent events?

Imamoglu's political future has been significantly impacted by his recent jailing and the annulment of his university degree. Despite these setbacks, the main opposition party has declared him their candidate for the 2028 presidential election, although his annulled degree currently disqualifies him from running.

Q: What vocabulary is highlighted in the podcast episode?

The podcast episode highlights several key vocabulary terms, including 'hit out at,' used to describe strong criticism, 'turn a blind eye to,' meaning to ignore something bad, and 'authoritarian turn,' indicating a shift towards more authoritarian governance. These terms help listeners understand the nuances of the news story.

Q: What resources are available for further learning?

For further learning, listeners can access a free worksheet and vocabulary definitions on the BBC Learning English website. The podcast also encourages engagement through social media platforms, where users can practice using the vocabulary and phrases discussed in the episode.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Protests have erupted in Turkey following the jailing of Istanbul's mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, on corruption charges. Imamoglu is considered a major political rival to President Erdogan, who has been in power since 2003. The opposition party has named him their candidate for the 2028 presidential election, despite his annulled degree.

• Erdogan has criticized the protests, calling them 'evil' and blaming opposition parties. The expression 'hit out at' is used to describe his strong criticism. The international response has been weak, with the EU raising questions and the US deeming it an internal issue.

• The phrase 'turn a blind eye to' suggests Erdogan expects the world to ignore the unrest. The term 'authoritarian turn' describes Turkey's shift towards authoritarianism under Erdogan. This podcast episode explores these expressions and their contexts in the news.