[Statement of the World Anti-Imperialist Platform]
Erdoğan Must Immediately Release Anti-Imperialist Activists and Stop the Fascist Crackdown!
The fascist Erdoğan authorities have perpetrated a fascist outrage by detaining 21 anti-imperialist activists in Türkiye. On June 15, in Istanbul, 23 activists were arrested, including Muhammed Hizmetçi, the representative of the Struggle Unity Platform; Songül Yücel, editor-in-chief of Önsöz Magazine; and author-illustrator Sena Şat. On June 18, they were transferred to the Çağlayan Courthouse, where 21 were arrested and imprisoned, while two were released under judicial control. During this process, they were even subjected to a strip search akin to torture, rather than a standard investigation. The fascist Erdoğan authorities ruthlessly arrested 42 progressive activists between June 12 and 15, including 10 anti-imperialist youth activists and labor movement activists on June 12, and 9 revolutionary activists in the Eskişehir region on June 13—shocking not only Türkiye but the entire world the civilized world of the 21st century.
The arrests and detentions are based on Türkiye’s fascist evil laws. The gravest charges leveled against the anti-imperialist activists are “organized crime and membership in an armed organization” under Articles 220 and 314 of the Penal Code. Article 220 of the Penal Code is a clause punishing members of an organization formed by three or more persons “for the purpose of committing crimes prohibited by law.” Article 314 of the Penal Code carries the proviso of an “armed organization formed for the purpose of overturning the constitutional order and national security.” In addition, they face charges of violating Anti-Terrorism Law No. 3713, which defines the concepts of “terrorism” and “terrorist” in the broadest and most ambiguous manner in the world, such that any forces or organizations critical of the regime are bound to be ensnared. According to Criminal Procedure Code No. 5271, in the event of indictment on “terrorism/organized crime charges,” extra-legal powers are granted to public security authorities, including restricting defense counsel’s access to evidence files on grounds of “confidentiality of investigation and security urgency.” Due to a series of evil laws, even mere advocacy of anti-NATO/anti-imperialist claims leads to being branded as a “terrorist/terrorist organization” and targeted by the authorities.
The fascist Erdoğan regime is tightening its control and suppression over the entire society ahead of the NATO Summit. The Turkish Ministry of the Interior announced that it would deploy a total of 70,000 military and police forces across Ankara around the period of the summit, including 55,000 armed police and gendarmerie. This encompasses all units, from anti-terrorism forces and the intelligence agency to rapid response special operations forces. From July 1 to 15, all types of outdoor rallies, marches, press conferences, and even the issuance of statements are completely prohibited throughout the capital. All venues related to the summit and their surrounding areas have been designated as “Red Zones,” with checkpoints established at every corner. Surveillance cameras are being added at over 100 key junctions to monitor and track anti-imperialist activists. Meanwhile, the Intelligence Directorate of the Turkish National Police has secured a list of individuals with a history of participating in overseas anti-NATO, anti-imperialist, and anti-war protests, taking measures to fundamentally block their entry or deport them.
The fascist frenzy of the Erdoğan regime proves, in contrast, the anti-imperialist and anti-NATO sentiments of the Turkish people. Since Türkiye joined NATO in 1952, the Turkish people have continuously been enraged by the reality of their sovereign rights being trampled upon while their own territory has degenerated into a NATO base for aggression in West Asia. In particular, a sense of crisis regarding the threat of war looming over Türkiye—brought about by the war in Iran and the West Asian war ignited by the US and Israel—is deepening, centered around the working class and the youth. Shifting the burden of the economic crisis onto the people, the Erdoğan regime is pouring massive amounts of the people’s blood tax into the construction of NATO military bases and the purchase of US-made weapons. By reducing Türkiye to a base for NATO’s southern front and turning the people into cannon fodder for war, the regime is further infuriating public sentiment. The anti-imperialist and anti-NATO struggles that Turkish anti-imperialist fighters have waged at the risk of their lives in front of military bases and key regions are a righteous reflection of Turkish public sentiment. The banners of anti-imperialism and anti-fascism are the banners of justice that represent our era. The righteous struggle to overthrow imperialism and fascism will surely triumph.
June 20, 2026
World Anti-Imperialist Platform
