The detention of the popular Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu last month has sparked Turkey’s largest anti-government protests in years, with people gathering nightly amid violent clashes with police. But after thousands of arrests and with disagreements about how the protests should move forwards, the opposition movement is at a crossroads.
Amid concerns that Turkey may be slipping irretrievably towards full authoritarianism, Ruth Michaelson reports from Istanbul on how the detention of a popular young activist has caused particular anger among opponents of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government. Ruth also weighs up what options now lie ahead for the protest movement amid disagreements about the best way forward.
And, in a heartfelt opinion piece, the Nobel prize-winning author Orhan Pamuk expresses his deep fears for what little remains of democracy in Turkey.
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Five essential reads in this week’s edition
Spotlight | Myanmar, after the earthquake
With thousands now known to have been killed as a result of last Friday’s earthquake that struck near Mandalay, Rebecca Ratcliffe reports on fading hopes of finding more survivors
Environment | The power of dead seaweed
Rotting sargassum is clogging up Grenada’s beaches – but innovative technology is turning it into fuel, fertiliser and bioplastics. Natricia Duncan and Abigail McIntyre report
Feature | The rapid growth in beard transplants
Demand for beard transplant surgery is soaring – despite the dangers that lurk in unregulated clinics. Are the risks worth it? Simon Usborne investigates
Opinion | How to beat the far right
As a lonely, hate-filled kid in Sydney’s suburbs, Matthew Quinn turned to far-right ideology. Now he reveals how he helps others avoid that path
Culture | The return of FKA twigs
Despite global stardom, FKA twigs has always felt a lack of belonging. The musician opens up to Zoe Williams about f ighting censorship, crying on stage and performing for peanuts
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What else we’ve been reading
• As a reluctant but admittedly frequent user of emojis in both my professional and personal life, this article on the potential pitfalls of icon-based communication really grabbed my attention. It was also the first time I noticed emojis being used in an actual Guardian article! Tom Bull, CRM executive
• Science plays a prominent role in the sophisticated training regimes of modern footballers. It was no different 100 years ago, when Arsenal heralded a decade of domination by buying a wooden shed, as recalled here by Simon Burnton. Pioneering manager Herbert Chapman spent £60 on the bizarre contraption to improve his players’ ball control in the runup to the 1927 FA Cup final. Unfortunately, they lost the match 1-0. Anthony Naughton, assistant editor
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Other highlights from the Guardian website
• Audio | Adolescence: what teen boys really think of girls, influencers and porn – podcast
• Video | It’s complicated – How bottled water companies are draining our drinking water
• Gallery | Spain’s wild horses in peril
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