They are young and determined. They've only known "him," as they call Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has been at the head of the country for more than 22 years. It's a chapter they say they urgently want to move on from. This handful of young people are the driving force behind the rebellion that triggered a spectacular uprising in the country, where hundreds of thousands of people have been taking to the streets for the past six days. It began after Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a member of the liberal Kemalist Republican People's Party (CHP), was arrested at his home on Wednesday, March 19. Imamoglu has long been the head of state's bête noire and main rival.

There's Deniz (all names have been changed at their request), 18, a first-year student in the Communication Faculty at Istanbul University. Baris, 20, son of a teacher and studying political science at Galatasaray University. Ebru, also 20, enrolled in sociology at Bosphorus University. And Eda, 22, is studying medicine at the private Yeditepe University.

They've known each other for several years. They met at left-wing party gatherings and have taken part in conferences and meetings to defend the rights of women, workers and those in need. All four are part of this politically engaged generation, which is also more radicalized intellectually. They are members or close associates of the Sol Genç (Left Youth) student movement and the various student platforms that are very active on campus.

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