• Demonstrations broke out after Istanbul Mayor Imamoglus arrest.
• Protests remained peaceful, but over 2,000 people detained.
• Drone footage caught clashes between protesters, security forces.

A new generation of young Turks is at the forefront of mass protests against President Tayyip Erdogan’s government and demands change in a country they see as increasingly authoritarian.

Demonstrations broke out after Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a popular opposition figure, was jailed pending lawsuit against corruption fees. Unlike older generations that remember the heavy crash at the anti-government Gezi Park in 2013, today’s young protesters say they are not untapped by the risk.

“I think growing up under just one regime makes us a generation looking for change, looking for evidence we live in a democracy,” said Yezan Atesyan, a 20-year-old student at the Middle East Technical University (METU).

“The idea of ​​a power that lasts forever, scares us.”

Hundreds of thousands of Turks nationwide have followed opposition calls to protest since Imamoglu was detained last week.

Protests have mostly been peaceful, but more than 2,000 people have been detained.

The most important opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), other opposition parties, rights groups and some Western powers have all said that the case against Imamoglu is a politicized effort to eliminate a potential election threat to Erdogan.

The government denies any influence on the judiciary and says the courts are independent.

Students from across Turkey have mobilized, opposite police blockades and water cannon cars. Drone footage from METU caught clashes between protesters and state security forces.

A generation on the edge

In addition to political frustration, financial difficulty has given rise to the turmoil. High inflation and unemployment have made young people feel that their future is slipping away.

“I’m educated in 2024, but I can’t find a job and my family is fighting financially,” said the 25-year-old protest Duygu at an opposition rally in Istanbul.

She fears for her safety, but also cares about her friends. “Some of them are already detained.”

Concerns over the state’s answers are growing. “I don’t want to show my face because the police could come to me,” said Duygu, who wears a mask against protests. “If that happens, it would ruin my family.”

Despite the risk, protesters remain decisive.

“This feels like our last chance,” said Atesyan.

“If we do not succeed, many of us will have to leave Turkey.”

The government rejects the protests as politically motivated, but the youth -driven unrest signalizes a growing gap.

“Imamoglu represents hope,” Atesyan said. “The opportunity for real change.”

As protests continue, young Turks insist that their demands are simple: democracy, accountability and a future worth living for.