End attacks on democratic rights

Berkay Kartav, London Socialist Party

Turkish President Recep Erdogan’s regime has stepped up its crackdown on all opposition activists, targeting trade unionists, socialists, journalists, and Kurdish activists. Between 14 and 18 February, over 282 people have been arrested.

This includes the chair of the BIRTEK-SEN textile workers’ trade union, Mehmet Turkmen. His ‘crime’ was to support workers’ action against low pay and bad working conditions. There is an undemocratic ban against demonstrations in Gazientep.

Other arrests were aimed at left organisations, such as the Labour Party (EMEP), and the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP), as well as the pro-Kurdish DEM party.

This follows a series of arrests and removal of democratically-elected mayors across Turkey, a nationwide crackdown by Erdogan’s regime, allegedly accusing them of having links to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), a banned organisation.

The mayor of Van was removed from office. When Erdogan’s government tried to annul the last local election results for Van in 2024, the government was forced into a U-turn after citywide protests.

Charges against the mayor of Istanbul – Ekrem Imamoglu, a member of the opposition CHP – could lead to four years prison time, and a political ban. He is a likely contender in the next presidential election.

However, these attacks on democratic rights come not from a position of strength, but weakness. The austerity programme implemented by the government, with brutal cuts to public spending, has hit home and added to the growing unpopularity of Erdogan.

The meagre increase to national minimum wages at the beginning of the new year, while the super-rich rake in billions, have shown whose side Erdogan is really on. Certainly, not on the side of  workers.

Erdogan is trying to use intimidation against all opponents in desperation to stave off any potential future unrest. His government has no answer for the cost-of-living crisis.

It is dreading the consequences of facing any mass movement similar to the Gezi Park protests in 2013. A new mass movement can shake the core foundations of Erdogan’s regime and capitalism itself, if the working class puts itself at the helm of the movement. 

There is an urgent need for all trade unions, socialists, and campaigners to make preparations and build a united front of workers’ and socialist organisations. A movement like that could bring people together to challenge Erdogan’s attacks on democratic rights, and the regime worsening the cost of living.

A united front of workers could offer a socialist way out – fighting to take the banks and other giant companies that dominate the economy, like textile and steel, into the democratic control of the working class, planning society in our interests.

• Solidarity messages can be sent to [email protected], and tag @birlesiktekstil in social media posts
• Letters of protest can be sent to the Turkish ambassador in Britain [email protected]