Survey Reveals 81% of Turks Feel Their Lifestyle Is Under Pressure

A new study by Aksoy Research highlights a growing sense of restriction across Turkey. According to the findings, only 19% of citizens believe their lifestyle remains untouched, while a striking 81% feel that their way of life is being interfered with.

Ertan Aksoy: “Justice Corridors Have Become Persuasion Rooms”

Researcher Ertan Aksoy elaborated on the survey results, arguing that state institutions have become spaces of pressure. Sharing his thoughts on social media, Aksoy drew a historical comparison: “In the past, we saw persuasion rooms at Istanbul University, where individuals were pressured to remove their headscarves. That practice was wrong, but it was at least symbolically confined to universities. Today, courthouses and detention centers have turned into persuasion rooms.”

From Social Media Posts to Trials

Aksoy described how even the smallest expressions can result in legal consequences: “You post a tweet, and at best you’re summoned by the police, interrogated, and put on trial. In many cases, the punishment feels predetermined.” This, he argued, represents a broader transformation of the justice system into a tool that discourages free expression and enforces conformity.

A Climate of Pressure

The findings come against a backdrop of wider concerns over freedom of expression and personal liberties in Turkey. The notion that four out of five citizens feel their daily lives are restricted reflects not only political dynamics but also cultural and legal pressures that shape behavior.

Aksoy also referenced cultural satire, pointing to Leman magazine as an example of how discussions around religious values have often been used to exert pressure on society. He warned that lifestyle freedoms are now increasingly at risk, as judicial and police actions amplify social anxiety.

What the Numbers Suggest

The survey’s implications are significant: when such a large majority perceives interference in their personal choices, it suggests a widening disconnect between citizens and governing institutions. While official narratives emphasize order and tradition, the data shows a population that increasingly feels constrained in what it says, does, or even wears.

A Nation at a Crossroads

The debate over lifestyle freedoms is not new in Turkey, but the transformation of judicial spaces into arenas of persuasion, as Aksoy describes, represents a shift from symbolic to structural pressure. As these dynamics deepen, the tension between individual freedoms and institutional authority may grow sharper, making lifestyle politics a defining issue in the years ahead.