The newly formed left-wing political party in Turkey, the Party of Socialists (SOLDEP), is facing possible closure due to constitutional objections raised by the Chief Prosecutor of the Court of Cassation. The prosecutor’s office has demanded the removal of several clauses from SOLDEP’s statutes that support Kurdish rights.
The prosecutor’s notice criticises the party’s inclusion of phrases such as “defending the rights of the Kurdish people” and “the right of nations to self-determination”, claiming that these statements are unconstitutional. The notice also takes issue with SOLDEP’s support for minority rights and Kurdish-language education, describing these as criminal.
SOLDEP, which was officially registered on 10 July 2024, was founded by former members of the Workers’ Party of Turkey (TİP) who were dissatisfied with the party’s approach to the Kurdish issue. The Court of Cassation’s notice claims that the party’s policies characterise Kurdish citizens as a minority and advocate the right to secession, which it considers disruptive to the unity of the country.
The party has been given 60 days to amend its charter or face dissolution under Article 104/1 of the Political Parties Law.
In response, SOLDEP issued a statement denouncing the threat of closure and reaffirming their solidarity with the Kurdish struggle. The statement read: “We are being targeted because of our support for the Kurdish people’s struggle. The prosecutor’s office has described our advocacy for the right to self-determination and education in Kurdish as disrupting national unity. We will not give in to this pressure”.
