Detained Union Leader Claims Religious Leader Said They Were Targeted for Not Aligning with AKP

Union leader Başaran Aksu has been released following a three-day detention period, which he spent sharing a cell with Alihan Kuriş, the leader of the Süleymancılar community. Aksu was detained during a protest demanding the payment of wages owed to workers at Elazığ Eti Gümüş and Doruk Madencilik, companies affiliated with Yıldızlar SSS Holding.

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We are experiencing the operation because we are not acting with the AKP.

In a social media post, Aksu revealed that Kuriş claimed their detention was a direct consequence of not aligning with the ruling AKP party. "We are experiencing the operation because we are not acting with the AKP," Kuriş reportedly told Aksu. This statement suggests a political motivation behind the crackdown on the union and the religious community.

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I am a leftist now.

Furthermore, Aksu recounted Kuriş's surprising declaration, "I am a leftist now," indicating a potential shift in his political stance. Aksu responded by clarifying their own position, stating, "We are not leftists; we are revolutionaries of the working class." Aksu also commented on the reverence Kuriş received from his followers, noting, "His disciples treat him like a prophet even in the cell, and his downfall is inevitable. And they are aware of the situation."

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We are not leftists; we are revolutionaries of the working class.