Lawyers detained over NATO speak out: 'Opposing NATO is a fundamental criterion of being a revolutionary and a patriot'

Ahead of the NATO Summit to be held on July 7-8, 12 lawyers were detained, including 6 from the Lawyers' Voice Initiative (ASİ), 4 from the Unyielding Jurists, and 2 members of the Progressive Lawyers Association. 

Attorneys Pınar Akbina, Sait Kıran, Tacettin Çolak, and Doğan Zafer Çıngı, members of ASİ who were detained during the anti-NATO protest organized by the People's Liberation Party (HKP) in front of the First Parliament in Ankara, recounted their detention process to 12punto. 

“Why were you detained?”

Attorney Kıran stated that the reason for the lawyers' detention was their participation in the anti-NATO protest, and other lawyers made statements to the same effect.

Attorney Akbina stated, “Due to the NATO meeting, the bloody war organization of imperialism, Ankara has currently been turned into an open-air prison,” adding, “A kind of Nazi law is currently being applied in our country. The ‘preventive detention’ in Nazi Germany is being applied in our country in the form of ‘preventive custody and arrests’.” 

Attorney Çolak said, “The reason we are in custody is NATO. As the People's Liberation Party and ASİ, we are those who fight for the full independence of the country and the true happiness of our people. We were targeted and detained because we fight against American imperialism and its collaborators.”

Attorney Çıngı stated, “The main reason for our detention is that we made a stand against NATO in Ankara in the climate of fear and oppression created by the AKP government. The government, in cooperation with US imperialism, wants to divide our country within the framework of the Greater Middle East Project. For this reason, opposing NATO is a fundamental criterion of being a revolutionary and a patriot. We were unlawfully detained because we stood up for our country and opposed NATO.” 

“What is the state of Turkey?”

Explaining the reason for their resistance against NATO, Attorney Akbina said, “For our people, who waged the first successful Anti-Imperialist War of Liberation in the world under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal, who said ‘Independence is my character,’ the NATO meeting, where the Greater Middle East Project—which actually means the division of our country into at least three parts—will be discussed, will be a blow to our independence. Our party's first Chairman Hikmet Kıvılcımlı has been saying since 1950 that ‘Turkey is not governed by Turkey.’ Our country is currently being governed by EU-US Imperialism and its perverted, pedophile president Trump, using the AKP as a tool. We were in the field precisely to oppose this and to protect the honor of our country.” 

On the other hand, Attorney Çolak said, “There is a serious regression regarding the independence of this country, the integrity of the homeland, and the freedom of our people. Against this, we are carrying out our struggle for a democratic people's power by upholding the gains of the Republic, the principle of secularism, and the condition of full independence.” 

Attorney Kıran stated, “Our country has been a semi-colony of US imperialism since 1950. In every field of social life, from the economy to politics, actions are taken in line with the demands of US imperialism. Local collaborators are in the position of servants to the US. Our country has lost the gains of the partially Secular Republic established at the end of our First National War of Liberation. For this reason, we have to wage a Second War of Liberation. We are waging this war. Our Second War of Liberation will eventually reach victory. The Democratic People's Power to be established will introduce our people to true democracy and freedom. HKP will continue to fight until victory. As our master Hikmet Kıvılcımlı said: ‘It is better to die than to be afraid of speaking of the love of the homeland and fighting for this cause.’” 

Attorney Çıngı said, “The Republic of Turkey was founded as a result of the war and victory against imperialism under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal and his comrades-in-arms. NATO is also the war organization of US imperialism. Throughout its history, the revolutionary movement in Turkey has waged honor and struggles against this war organization. The 68 generation and the leaders of that generation fought against imperialism in all their actions. They were revolutionaries who set an example for us in this struggle by dumping the 6th Fleet into the sea. For this reason, waging a struggle for independence is both a duty and a responsibility of revolutionaries in Turkey right now. It is also very natural for socialists to lead this struggle. Because true socialists defend the independence of our homeland and the freedom of our people to the end. When the immortal leader of our revolutionary youth, Deniz Gezmiş, was on the gallows, his last words were ‘Down with imperialism.’ The echo of these words is being carried on by revolutionaries today.” 

“What about the torture?”

In addition to Attorney Kıran, who stated that they were subjected to violence by the police during their detention, Attorney Akbina said, “While we wanted to exercise our constitutional right to protest and assembly, we were met with a violent attack by the police as soon as we got off the buses. We were subjected to reverse handcuffing and torture-like violence while handcuffed. The most painful part was that the police, who pride themselves on being Turkish police, had NATO emblems pinned to their chests and backs. The police have now become the police of NATO.” 

On the other hand, Attorney Çolak said, “Of course, we encountered violence during our detention process. However, we are a legal party that has participated in elections. Expressing our views on the country's agenda and world issues is our extremely democratic right. We carried out this action with the aim of fulfilling our responsibility to the peoples of the world and the people of Turkey. During this arbitrary detention, the police used disproportionate violence and force against our party members and me. Gas was even used in the detention vehicle.” 

Furthermore, Attorney Çıngı stated, “In line with the press statement call our party made weeks ago, we went to the nation to gather in front of our First Parliament, which fights for our independence. As soon as we arrived at the area, we were surrounded by hundreds of police without any warning, and detentions began. During the detention process, many of our friends, including myself, were beaten and subjected to violence. There were many comrades of mine who were punched in the face, kicked in the stomach, and had their hair pulled. I was also injured, with my left arm bleeding after being hit with shields. In addition, bruises and contusions formed as a result of the violence applied by the police to various parts of my body, especially our legs. And the situation I experienced is the least among those who were subjected to violence. As I saw in the detention cell where I was held, many people were subjected to much more severe violence. I saw many people with split heads and broken arms. Of course, we will also file complaints against the police who used violence.” 

“Every citizen should be against NATO”

Finally, Attorney Kıran made a call to the citizens, saying, “NATO is meeting to plan the Turkish leg of the Greater Middle East Project. This is one of the goals. They aim to divide our country into at least three parts. For this reason, every citizen should be against NATO.” 

News: Cenk BAŞBOĞAOĞLU