The Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) and the Federation of Socialist Youth Associations (SGDF) held a press conference at the Human Rights Association IHD in Istanbul about the long-lasting repression against politicians and activists. The press conference on Friday was also attended by the Green Left Party MP Çiçek Otlu and lawyer Vedat Çağırtekin from the Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD).

Deniz Aktaş from the ESP Executive Committee said that revolutionary and socialist people in Turkey are systematically persecuted under the AKP/MHP government. In the last five months, countless detention operations have been carried out, party members are being pressured by the police with threats regarding their lives, their work, their school and their family. “Within the last week, ten comrades have been called by the police in connection with so-called information and precautionary measures. In these calls, they are told that they should be informed about the ongoing cases against them and that they must come to an appointment in order to avoid punishment. In addition, their families are also summoned to the police by phone. A few weeks ago, the Marmara Closed Prison administration tried to get Kalender Polat, an SGDF member who was imprisoned in May, to talk to the MIT (intelligence service). By doing so, the prison administration committed an open offence.”

Aktaş stressed that her party will not remain silent to threats and attempted spy recruitment and will not be deterred from its struggle. "Attempts are being made to put the youth in an obedient state of hopelessness. Living revolutionary and defending one's values means dignity. We are proud to fight for revolution and socialism in an organised way. No attack can stop us."