Turkish police launched dawn raids across multiple provinces on Tuesday, detaining at least 52 people, including opposition politicians, journalists, and activists, as part of a widening crackdown on dissent. The operation, led by the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, targeted members of the Peoples’ Democratic Congress (HDK), Socialist Reconstitution Party (SYKP), Green Left Party (YSP), Labour Party (EMEP), and Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP).
Authorities said the arrests were linked to an ongoing investigation into the HDK, with 60 warrants issued in 10 provinces. Among those detained were journalists Yıldız Tar, Elif Akgül, and Ercüment Akdeniz, musician Pınar Aydınlar, as well as opposition figures including Aynur Cengiz, Melih Kayhan Pala, Esengül Demir (HDK), Naci Dönmez (YSP), Sema Barbaros, Mustafa Mayda, Mehmet Turp (EMEP), Semiha Şahin (ESP), Atilla Özdoğan, Erkin Barın Göylüler (DBP), and Halit Elçi, Mehmet Saltoğlu, Ahmet Saymadi (SYKP).
The crackdown drew swift condemnation from opposition parties and rights groups. EMEP leader Seyit Aslan denounced the arrests as part of a broader effort to silence dissent. “A midnight operation has taken our Istanbul provincial chair, district leaders, and many of our members into custody. We reject this arbitrary and unlawful crackdown. The government aims to turn Turkey into an open-air prison, but we will not surrender,” he said.
The SYKP also condemned the operation, stating that several of its key figures were taken into custody. “Our comrades Mehmet Saltoğlu, Halit Elçi, and Ahmet Saymadi were arrested in early morning raids. The government’s repression of socialists, revolutionaries, and patriots will not make us bow. We demand their immediate release,” the party said in a statement.
The YSP accused the government of trying to dismantle democratic opposition. “This is another attack on civil democratic politics. By detaining our Central Executive Committee member Naci Sönmez, the authorities are attempting to eliminate democratic politics through illegal means. We condemn this coup-like mentality and demand the immediate release of all those unlawfully detained,” the party said.
The Turkish government has repeatedly faced criticism from international rights groups over its increasing suppression of opposition voices, particularly in the wake of growing political and economic tensions. There has been no official response from the government regarding the latest wave of detentions.
