On 18 February, an operation was launched against the Peoples' Democratic Congress (HDK), resulting in the detention of 54 individuals. Of those detained, 30 were arrested, 13 were placed under house arrest, and 7 were released under judicial control.

Labour Party (EMEP) Istanbul MP Iskender Bayhan described this operation in which numerous politicians from various political parties and organizations, as well as artists and journalists, were imprisoned, as an intimidation attempt against social struggle. Bayhan emphasized the importance of resistance and said: "The strongest response we can give to these operations is to further strengthen and escalate our social struggle."

This situation will not prevent the government's loss of power

Bayhan pointed out that the successive appointments of trustees, the suppression of trade union struggles in Antep, and operations against the HDK will neither prevent the government's loss of power nor alleviate societal dissatisfaction. Instead, these actions will further intensify the unrest within society. Bayhan emphasized: "First, we saw the successive trustee appointments, followed by the suppression of workers’ protests in Antep, pressure against the United Textile, Weaving, and Leather Workers' Union (BIRTEK-SEN), and the arrest of union President Mehmet Türkmen.

Immediately after these events, we witnessed this large-scale operation against the HDK. Considering the scale of the HDK operation, in which 60 names have been targeted, along with a widely-known list of 1,640 people that was prepared four months earlier, it's evident that this points to a broader and pre-planned operation. Clearly, the People’s Alliance and the one-man regime aim to find a way out of their political deadlock and suppress the growing opposition among workers, laborers, and the public through such operations in the coming period."

Bayhan added: "On the other hand, they are also attempting to send a message to the broader Turkish public that they remain strong and powerful. However, such a policy will not prevent the weakening of the one-man regime in the future. On the contrary, these measures only deepen economic and political dissatisfaction, unrest, and reactions. Observing the increasing strikes, demonstrations, struggles for rights, and expressions of dissent across Turkey clearly reflects this reality."

We must increase the struggle

Bayhan expressed concern that these operations would intensify further, emphasizing that the strongest response from labor, peace, and democracy advocates should be to escalate their struggle. He said that "the Erdoğan government and the People's Alliance are pursuing a policy that they openly label as internal front politics, through which they aim to crush all those outside their own ranks. Declaring the HDK, which has served as a focal point of alliance for forces advocating labor, peace, and democracy since 2011, a criminal organization through this operation clearly indicates their fear of potential alliances and unity against them. More precisely, their strategy involves attempting to dismantle the ranks of opposing forces. Their stance toward social reconciliation is also consistent with this approach.

The scale of this latest operation reveals something crucial: through the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, which the government uses as their personal weapon, they intend to increase such operations and initiate sweeping investigations and cases. Recently, Turkey has already faced politically motivated trials such as the Gezi trial, the Kobanê trial, and various conspiracy-driven cases. Now, it's evident that a clear politics of conspiracy is being maintained. Therefore, we strongly emphasize the necessity of halting these operations, which reportedly target thousands of people.

The government sees these attacks as a tool for governing the country and asserting its power, believing it can suppress the growing opposition among workers, laborers, and supporters of peace and democracy."