Solidarity with the Anti-NATO Forces in Türkiye!
The NATO summit currently taking place in Ankara is accompanied by severe repression by the Turkish state and its police, as well as a shutdown of the city: Under the pretext of “terrorism”, anti-NATO forces are being arrested en masse and otherwise harassed. The obvious aim is to create a deathly silence while simultaneously concealing the fact that the terrorists are none other than the Western heads of state and government gathered at the summit of this war alliance themselves – those who seek to keep the globe under their thumb and are discussing the next military steps to achieve it.
In addition to many other cases of repression, the youth meeting of the World Anti-Imperialist Platform (WAP) near Istanbul on July 1st was raided, and around 20 participants were arrested, including international delegates such as Miloš Karavezić from the Communist Youth of Yugoslavia (SKOJ). The Communist Party of Türkiye (TKP) reports that 145 people were arrested during a violent police attack on its demonstration. Many other organizations across the leftist and communist spectrum, including lawyers’ associations, are reporting raids and the detention of their members. In total, this affects at least several hundred people, but the number is likely already over a thousand. We wish all those injured and mistreated in prison a speedy recovery and strongly urge the release of all anti-NATO activists.
The near-total shutdown of public life in Ankara – including bans on all political demonstrations or discussions (whether on the streets or indoors), strikes, and even exams, concerts, and festivals – simply to allow the warlords to operate in a sheltered and completely undisturbed environment, demonstrates once again how closely linked foreign policy of war is to the restriction of rights and freedoms at home. Resistance against this is honorable – we strongly protest the repressive measures!
Solidarity with the anti-NATO forces in Türkiye!
Freedom for the political prisoners!
Down with NATO!