On 18 February, Turkish authorities detained 50 people, and 30 of them have now been formally arrested. Their alleged crime? Being part of a democratic alliance that was founded 13 years ago with the aim of promoting a peaceful and just future.
Crackdown on Leftist and Pro-Democracy Figures
The arrests targeted members of various leftist and socialist parties, activists, artists, and journalists who had united under the umbrella of the Peoples’ Democratic Congress (HDK). After more than a decade, these individuals were suddenly detained and jailed, in what critics see as another step towards authoritarianism.
Among those arrested are:
• Sema Barbaros – Istanbul Chair of the Labour Party (EMEP)
• Mehmet Saltoğlu – Central Executive Committee member of the DEM Party
• Halit Elçi & Ahmet Saymadi – Members of the Socialist Refoundation Party (SYKP)
• Elif Akgül, Yıldız Tar & Ercüment Akdeniz – Journalists
• Ayşe Bengi – Screenwriter
• Pınar Aydınlar – Artist
The arrest of these 30 individuals is yet another stark example of President Erdoğan’s increasingly repressive rule and intolerance towards political opposition, independent journalism, and artistic expression.
House Arrests and Travel Bans
In addition to the formal arrests, 18 people were placed under house arrest, while two others were released under judicial control with travel bans preventing them from leaving the country.
This wave of repression underscores the Erdoğan government’s ongoing efforts to silence opposition voices and suppress democratic movements in Turkey. As arrests of journalists, activists, and opposition figures continue, the future of democracy in the country remains under severe threat.
