As Turkey prepares to host the NATO Summit in Ankara on 7–8 July, a sweeping crackdown has targeted activists, lawyers, students and trade unionists across the capital. In the early hours of recent days, police carried out coordinated raids on dozens of homes following a blanket ban on demonstrations imposed by the Ankara Governor’s Office. […]
Recent events in Turkey have raised serious concerns about democratic rights, political freedom and academic freedom. A Turkish court has moved to remove Özgür Özel as leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), Turkey’s main opposition party, and reports have emerged of police action against the party’s democratically elected leadership. These developments come amid wider […]
As Solidarity with the People of Turkey (SPOT), we condemn the Turkish court decision to remove Özgür Özel as leader of the CHP, Turkey’s main opposition party, and the police violence used to forcibly remove the democratically elected leadership from party headquarters in Ankara. We are calling on President Erdoğan and the Turkish government to […]
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 […]
The decision to close İstanbul Bilgi University by presidential decree has triggered widespread outrage among trade unions, human rights organisations, students, and academics across Turkey. The move represents a direct attack on academic freedom, democratic rights, and the right to education, while placing tens of thousands of students and university workers into deep uncertainty. Education unions and […]
Solidarity with the People of Turkey condemns in the strongest possible terms the Turkish court decision to remove Özgür Özel as leader of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), Turkey’s main opposition party. This ruling represents a serious assault on democratic principles and political freedom in Turkey. The leadership of an opposition party must be decided […]
The release of Turkish trade union leader Mehmet Türkmen after 57 days in prison is a victory for workers, trade unionists, and all those who stood in solidarity against repression in Turkey. But his case has exposed something far deeper than the unjust imprisonment of one union organiser: it has shone an international spotlight on […]
Esra Işık, who had been detained since March 31 for opposing the expropriation of agricultural lands around Akbelen Forest has been released. Esra Işık was taken into custody on the night of March 30 following a protest held against the expropriation of agricultural lands surrounding Akbelen Forest in the Milas district of Muğla. She was […]
Mehmet Türkmen, General President of BİRTEK-SEN, has been subjected to ill-treatment and placed in solitary confinement at Gaziantep E Tipi Cezaevi after speaking out about prison conditions and the situation of sick detainees. Türkmen was arrested on 16 March on charges of “publicly spreading misleading information” following remarks he made during a press statement in […]
The determined struggle of workers at Doruk Mining in Turkey has once again highlighted the power and necessity of organised labour, even as workers continue to insist that words alone are not enough. Despite ministerial statements claiming the crisis would be resolved, the Bağımsız Maden‑İş union has made clear that no concrete steps had yet […]
Workers at Doğtaş Furniture in Biga, Çanakkale, and at Kelebek Furniture in Düzce, both subsidiaries of Doğanlar Holding where the Öz Ağaç İş union is organised, have stopped work over their promotion payment entitlements. The promotion is a payment that workers are due to be paid in return for agreeing to receive their wages through […]
Legal organisations in Istanbul have issued a joint call for justice, highlighting unresolved cases as part of a broader pattern of violence against women and girls and pledging to continue their struggle until accountability is achieved. Gathering outside the Istanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan, representatives from multiple legal groups condemned what they described as negligence, cover-ups, […]
A broad coalition of political parties gathered outside Silivri Prison to demand the immediate release of political prisoners and the enforcement of rulings by Turkey’s Constitutional Court and the European Court of Human Rights. The action followed earlier visits to Edirne Prison, where Selahattin Demirtaş, Figen Yüksekdağ and Selçuk Mızraklı remain unlawfully detained. Can Atalay, […]
Workers from Doruk Madencilik, who have been marching for nine days to demand unpaid wages and compensation, faced police blockade and violence as they attempted to continue their protest in the capital. During the crackdown, police attacked protestors with pepper spray and physical violence. 33 people were detained, including union officials and workers. Among those […]
The Education Workers’ Union, Eğitim Sen, has issued a stark warning over rising violence in schools, unveiling a “Non-Violent School Declaration” and calling for structural reform of Turkey’s education system. The declaration was announced in Ankara during an ongoing protest vigil outside the Ministry of National Education, organised in response to recent violent incidents in […]
On April 15, in the city of Maraş in southern Turkey, a student took his father’s five firearms and entered his own school, killing one teacher and seven students. The 18-year-old student, whose father is a police chief, had previously been taught by his father how to use firearms. In recent times, thousands of teachers […]
Attacks targeting the opposition in Turkey continue. So far, dozens of CHP municipalities have been subjected to operations, and hundreds of people have been detained. Most recently, early this morning, the homes of officials from the CHP-run Ataşehir District Municipality in Istanbul were raided, and 18 people were taken into custody. The reason given for […]
On April 14, in the southeastern city of Urfa, a gunman entered a school and injured 16 people. On April 15, in the central Anatolian city of Maraş, a 14-year-old student, İsa Aras Mersinli (whose father is a state security officer and whose mother is a teacher) went to school carrying five firearms belonging to […]
A new operation targeting an opposition-led municipality in Turkey has resulted in the arrest of 12 people, including a CHP deputy mayor, in the Yenişehir district of Mersin. 33 people were detained as part of an investigation launched by the Mersin Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office on allegations of bribery and misconduct. Following court proceedings, 12 […]
The former opposition CHP Party leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has been sentenced to 11 months and 20 days in prison on charges of “insulting the President”. The verdict was delivered by today at the Mersin Criminal Court of First Instance as part of the ongoing court case against Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality İBB. The verdict has added […]
Workers at Mersin International Port in Turkey have entered the 103rd day of their strike, vowing to continue their struggle until all dismissed workers are reinstated. A total of 180 workers, employed by Mersin International Port Management (MIP) and its subcontractor Özgüneş Transport, were dismissed after joining the TÜMTİS (Union of Motor Vehicle Workers of […]
Mining workers in Turkey have begun a long march to the capital, demanding unpaid wages and compensation in a dispute that highlights deepening attacks on workers’ rights. Workers employed by Doruk Madencilik set off on foot towards Ankara after gathering outside their workplace ahead of the protest. Members of the Independent Mine Workers’ Union (Bağımsız […]
Representatives of political parties and trade unions gathered outside the Karşıyaka İZBAN station in İzmir to protest the arrest of labour organiser Başaran Aksu. The demonstration, which included a march and public statement, also voiced opposition to the detention of Mehmet Türkmen, Esra Işık, and, the mining union legal expert Doğukan Akan. During the protest, […]
Campaigners protested in Istanbul yesterday following the detention of trade union organiser Başaran Aksu, escalating concerns over the targeting of labour activists and freedom of expression in Turkey. Aksu, Organisation Coordinator for the workers’ network Umut-Sen, was arrested on 9 April on charges of “spreading misleading information” and “inciting hatred and hostility.” The case mirrors […]
An indictment has been prepared against Mehmet Türkmen, General President of BİRTEK SEN, who was arrested on 16 March on the charge of “publicly spreading misleading information”.Türkmen was detained because of remarks he made at a press statement he attended in solidarity with Sırma Halı workers in Antep, a city in southern Turkey, who were […]
In Turkey, mayors from the Republican People’s Party (CHP), which achieved major success in the 2024 local elections, are being arrested one by one. Just this morning an operation was carried out as part of an investigation targeting Bolu Municipality, leading to the detention of two senior local CHP officials. Gendarmerie forces took Bolu Deputy […]
At least 148 workers lost their lives in work related deaths in March 2026, according to new data from the Workers’ Health and Safety Assembly (İSİG Meclisi). Among those killed were eight children, 15 migrant workers and 16 women.The latest figures mean that 432 workers have died in workplace killings in the first three months […]
As political repression deepens and democratic freedoms continue to erode in Turkey, questions about the country’s democratic future have never been more urgent. The Solidarity with the People of Turkey (SPOT) campaign invites you to its Annual Conference to explore these critical issues and discuss how international solidarity can make a difference. The conference, titled […]
Date: 31 May 2025 Location: NEU, Hamilton House, London On May 31st, the Solidarity with the People of Turkey (SPOT) Annual General Meeting brought together trade unionists, activists, and supporters committed to international solidarity and workers’ rights. Held at NEU Hamilton House in London, the meeting underscored the shared struggles of workers in Turkey, the […]
The detention of journalists who were covering the protests following the arrest of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu continues. This morning, journalists Nisa Sude Demirel from the Evrensel newspaper and Elif Bayburt from ETHA were detained by the police after their homes were raided.
Allowed for Erdoğan’s Son, Banned for the Opposition In Turkey, the Istanbul Governor’s Office has refused to permit the main opposition party, the Republican People’s Party (CHP), to hold a solidarity march for Palestine. The event, titled “Free Palestine Walk: From the River to the Sea,” was planned to take place on the Galata Bridge […]
Selahattin Demirtas, the former Co-Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), along with other Kurdish politicians, has been convicted and sentenced to prison on charges related to the case involving the 2014 Kobani protests. A total of 108 HDP members were prosecuted in relation to the nationwide incidents that occurred on October 6-8, 2014. The trial […]
Burcu Köksal, from the main opposition social democratic party CHP, who became the mayor of Afyon City in the local elections held on March 31, closed the unlicensed shops of migrants. Köksal also said she would send the migrants back to their home countries. During the election campaign, Burcu Köksal, who said that if she […]
Turkey’s parliament revoked the status of the jailed opposition MP today after the judicial crisis between two of the country’s top courts. Can Atalay was elected to parliament as an MP for Hatay from TIP in the May 2023 elections. He was sentenced to 18 years in prison in the Gezi trial. Atalay’s applications for […]
The discriminatory policies of Erdogan’s AKP government have created a hostile environment that led to the unfortunate armed attack during the Sunday mass at the Saint Maria Italian Catholic Church in Sarıyer district of İstanbul on January 28, where one person died. The Islamic State jihadists claimed responsibility for the attack. The organisation stated that […]
We once again call for solidarity with the Özak Textile workers, whose hearts beat with courage in different countries around the world! Özak Textile workers have been exercising their right to choose a union in the face of oppression, mobbing, and slave-like conditions at the workplace since the 27th of November. The voices of these […]
As in previous years, the SPOT conference will discuss a range of issues generated by the experiences and struggles of workers and campaigners in Turkey. It will address the most recent attack on trade unions, women’s rights, LGBT+ people and climate activists. It will seek to put this in a wider context of the drive […]
SPOT stands in solidarity with the people of Palestine and calls for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the siege of Gaza. We condemn the killing of Israeli civilians by Hamas and the response of the Israeli government to collectively punish the Palestinian people. Following the attacks on the 7th of October, Benjamin Netanyahu […]
The arrest of TELE 1 editor-in-chief Merdan Yanardag is the latest intimidation operation by the Turkish government against the opposition press. In a televised speech over the weekend, Yanardag said: “[PKK leader Abdullah] Öcalan is the longest-serving political prisoner in Türkiye. If normal execution laws were applicable, he should actually be released… The isolation imposed […]
This panel is organised by SPOT and Day-Mer and is a part of the 34th Day-Mer Culture and Arts Festival. Speakers: Labour MP Kate Osamor Bir-TEK Sen general secretary Mehmet Turkmen EMEP MP Iskender Bayhan Unison international officer Mark Beacon Day-Mer MCM Ceren Sagir To register your interest, visit: eventbrite
On Monday 5th June a delegation of ten international observers, four from UK trade unions, attended the hearing of eight trade unionists in Ankara, Turkey. This is the sixth trial and details of the allegations and people charges are below. One of the defendants Gonul Erden joined remotely as she is still being held under […]
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who has been managing Turkey like his own family business for 21 years, will remain in power for another five years after the recent elections. Erdogan, who received 49.5 per cent of the votes in the first round, secured 52 per in the run-off elections last month. Main opposition leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu […]
Huda-Par (Free Cause Party), a radical jihadist “political party” in Turkey, has announced its support for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his People’s Alliance (the religious and nationalist alliance) in the upcoming May 14 elections. Huda-Par has roots in the outlawed Kurdish-Hezbollah which is responsible for the horrific executions in southeast Turkey during the 1990s. […]
Millions of people are living in tents and informal settlements across earthquake-hit areas in Turkey. It has recently emerged that the Turkish Red Crescent sold tents to the earthquake victims after the quake. As a result, there are thousands of people who could not find any shelter, even a tent, in freezing weather conditions. Among […]
Solidarity with the people of Turkey and Syria. This is an urgent appeal for Solidarity and assistance. Tens of thousands of people are dead, and hundreds of thousands are injured after earthquakes hit parts of Turkey and Syria. Solidarity with the People of Turkey (SPOT) is calling for donations to fund direct support and Solidarity […]
Videos of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, taken during a campaign stop of Turkey’s March 2019 local elections, have resurfaced showing him boasting about the amnesty programme in the earthquake epicentre that allowed contractors to ignore the safety codes and forgave faults in millions of buildings across Turkey. While campaigning ahead of local elections in 2019, […]
We, United Textile Workers Union (BIRTEK-SEN), with our members, executives and numbers of volunteers have been mobilized, day and night, to relieve the injuries caused by the earthquake chiefly in central Gaziantep and its districts as well as other affected cities such as Maras, Adiyaman and Malatya. In collaboration with Nar Art Society, we set […]
The Chamber of Mining Engineers of Turkey has participated in the search and rescue operations in the earthquake zone and published the “Preliminary Investigation Report for the Earthquakes of February 6, 2023” on February 11, 2023. The report from the ground points out that the poor disaster response of the government and organisational structure of […]
Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), yesterday said in a statement: “I saw the state of our people with my own eyes. I refuse to accept that this situation is above contemporary politics and I refuse to align with the government (discourse).” Kilicdaroglu stressed that this catastrophe is exactly […]
Turkey’s government officials have waged a war on the media. Fahrettin Altun, Turkey’s Presidential Communications Director, yesterday proudly announced that a smartphone application called “Disinformation Reporting Service” is available to report people who are sharing “fake news” or “disinformation” online. The Directory also banned “nonaccredited” journalists’ access to the disaster area. Twitter – which has […]
It is known that terrorist incidents are frequently seen at the beginning of every election period in Turkey. In previous elections, the Erdoğan government received the electorate’s support through such events. This week, the Consulate of Britain, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Belgium and Switzerland in Istanbul were closed due to a new terrorist threat.
Turkey’s general elections, which were supposed to be held on 18 June, will be held on 14 May. According to the election law, a person can only be president for a maximum of two terms. But President Erdoğan is looking for ways to take on the role for the third time by using a constitutional amendment […]