Ankara was plunged into political turmoil after police forces stormed the headquarters of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), where party leader Özgür Özel and opposition lawmakers had been holding a vigil following the unacceptable “mutlak butlan” ruling. The ruling is baseless court decision that is politically motivated, and which seeks to dismiss the party conference elections and replace Özel with former leader CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu.
This is an unprecedented attack on Turkey’s democratic opposition. The police entered the CHP headquarters using tear gas, plastic bullets, and water cannons after tensions escalated between supporters of Özel and figures aligned with former CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. Witnesses reported that doors were broken down and the building was flooded with gas as officers moved floor by floor through the headquarters.
CHP members barricaded themselves inside the building with desks and chairs while chanting slogans in defence of democracy. Speaking from inside the headquarters, Özel said, “We do not know how long we can hold out,” and called on the Turkish public to resist political intimidation.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and state authorities are attempting to destroy the opposition through the use of police force and judicial pressure as the government faces growing political challenges.
Police violence during the raid reportedly left several people injured, with officers firing plastic bullets and tear gas at party members and supporters gathered at the scene. Opposition figures warned that the events marked another step toward authoritarian rule and called on the international community to respond.
We urge the UK public to condemn the crackdown and call on the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer not to remain silent while his sister party is under attack in Turkey. The raid on CHP headquarters represents the construction of fascism and we called for international solidarity with Turkey’s democratic opposition.