Turkey's Workers' Party Marks Gezi Resistance Anniversary, Demands Prisoner Freedom
Translated from Turkish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- The Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP) commemorated the 13th anniversary of the Gezi Resistance.
- TİP honored those who died during the protests and demanded freedom for Can Atalay and other Gezi prisoners.
- The party stated that the spirit of Gezi lives on in ongoing struggles for justice, freedom, and labor rights.
The Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP) marked the 13th anniversary of the Gezi Resistance with a statement honoring the movement and demanding the release of political prisoners. The party emphasized that the Gezi protests, which began over environmental concerns, have evolved into a broader struggle for justice and freedom.
'Not just 'a few trees'; a matter of nature, justice, and freedom: The Gezi Resistance is 13 years old.'
In a social media post, TİP declared, "'Not just 'a few trees'; a matter of nature, justice, and freedom: The Gezi Resistance is 13 years old." The party asserted that the spirit of Gezi, which authorities failed to suppress with force, continues to thrive in ongoing public demonstrations for justice and in the fight for freedom and labor rights.
They could not defeat the Gezi spirit with tear gas, batons, or violence; the Gezi spirit lives on in the ongoing justice struggle in the squares, in the fight for freedom and labor.
TİP paid tribute to those who lost their lives during the 2013 protests. The statement specifically called for the freedom of Can Atalay, a lawyer and TİP lawmaker who was imprisoned following the Gezi events, and all other Gezi prisoners. The party concluded its message with the defiant slogan, "Darkness will pass, Gezi will remain."
We respectfully commemorate those who became immortal in Gezi, and we demand freedom for Can Atalay and all Gezi prisoners. Darkness will pass, Gezi will remain.
Originally published by Cumhuriyet in Turkish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.