The recent developments taking place in Turkey are set against the background of the policies enacted by the government led by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the AKP (Justice and Development Party) aimed at eliminating any room for political action by the popular opposition and undermining the right of Turkish popular masses to political participation. These policies are aligned with the role of gendarme assigned to Turkey by the EU, NATO, and the United States in defense of the interests of this imperialist bloc in the region -albeit not without contradictions among the same actors involved, due to Turkey’s Neo-Ottoman ambitions.
As is well known, these developments have led to the illegitimate arrest of several opposition figures, including the Mayor of the Metropolitan City of Istanbul, Ekrem İmamoğlu, and journalist İsmail Saymaz. The arrests have in turn prompted massive popular protests, with comrades from the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) at the forefront, calling for mass mobilization in cities across the country —most notably in Ankara, Istanbul, and Izmir. The TKP comrades’ efforts to fight against the reactionary and anti-people policies of Erdoğan’s government have led to the detention of several activists, including senior Party members Ahmet Dincel and Arda Hacıyusufoğlu. Seven communist university students were also taken into custody yesterday, following raids on their homes.
On behalf of the CC and of all Communist Front (Italy) and Young Communists’ Front (Italy) members, we express our solidarity and support for the struggle of the Turkish people and communists against the authoritarian course set by the reactionary government led by Erdoğan. We unconditionally condemn the repression of Turkish opponents and communists and call for the immediate release of arrested communist activists and opposition figures, and an end to police violence against protesters.
Rome, 26/03/2025
The Political Bureau of the CC of the Communist Front (Italy)
The National Secretariat of the Young Communist’s Front (Italy)
