Patriotic intellectuals speak with one voice: Turkey must withdraw from NATO

The process, which began on September 1, World Peace Day, with the call "On Duty Against NATO and Imperialist War," was strengthened by an anti-NATO march from Kartal to Incirlik Air Base. Following the march and anti-NATO exhibitions opened in many provinces, the call to be "On Duty Against NATO and Imperialist War" continued with panels and seminars held across Turkey.

As a new stage of the call to duty, a petition prepared by the THTM Executive Board has been opened for the signatures of intellectuals and artists. The campaign, which was launched with the aim of making the anti-NATO approach a mass political demand, has grown with the support of patriotic intellectuals.

The petition, prepared under the title "For the security of our country, for independence and sovereignty, for world peace, Turkey must withdraw from NATO!" and strengthened by the signatures of intellectuals and artists, will be submitted to the Speaker of the TBMM in the coming days.

The petition includes the following statements addressed to the Speaker of the TBMM:

"For the security of our country, for independence and sovereignty, for world peace, Turkey must withdraw from NATO!

We, the undersigned, based on our professional and intellectual background and with the responsibility of being citizens of the Republic of Turkey, demand from the TBMM that our country's NATO membership be terminated immediately, and that sub-agreements, bilateral agreements made with other member states, and relevant protocols be repealed.”

In his assessment to soL, Aydemir Güler, a member of the THTM Executive Board and one of the signatories of the petition, recalled the struggles that patriots in Turkey have waged against NATO in the past. Güler emphasized that today, Turkey perhaps feels the heat of war more than it did in those periods:

“When NATO membership was discussed in Turkey in the 1950s, struggles were waged against it. Behind the bloody walls erected in front of the popular awakening in the 1960s were NATO and its affiliated structures. The struggle of patriots was also on the agenda in the 2000s when NATO and the US carried out destructive, invasive interventions in the Middle East.

Today, our country perhaps feels the heat of war more than in all these examples. Ukraine, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Iran… The dynamics that could drag Turkey into darkness are at work. The most important step to change the direction of this course will be to withdraw from NATO, which is the headquarters of militarism, war-mongering, and invasion.”

Stating that "our people have never embraced NATO membership," Güler pointed out that the historical memory of society has recorded Western imperialism as a source of threat.

Expressing that this common sense has no equivalent in establishment politics, Güler said, "The THTM and the intellectuals who signed the campaign are taking a step to carry this potential into politics. The magnitude of the danger has made the option of withdrawing from NATO more current than ever before."

Stating that the THTM adopts anti-imperialism, independence, and pacifism as principles, Güler said, "Opposing NATO should be a principle in this sense."

Güler added, "But today, beyond this, the weight of NATO and the positions of NATO-ism in Turkey can be pushed back. The THTM acts on the premise that our country's withdrawal from NATO is a vital necessity and that this step is politically possible."

The initial signatories of the petition to be submitted to the Speaker of the TBMM are as follows:

Abdurrahman Bayramoğlu | Lawyer

Adnan Gerger | Journalist

Ahmet Abakay | Journalist, Author

Ahmet Ayçiçek | Founding Chairman of the Kemalist Direction Movement

Ahmet Büke | Man of Letters, Author

Ahmet Doğan | Author

Ali Balkız | Author

Ali Berçin | Retired Non-Commissioned Officer

Ali Dalgın | President of Karacaahmet Sultan Dervish Lodge Gürpınar Cemevi

Ali Kemal Akgül | Member of the General Health-Work Union Headquarters Executive Board

Ali Saraç | Member of the Education-Work Istanbul Branch No. 1 Executive Board

Ali Somel | Assoc. Prof. Dr. Political Science, Academic

Ali Rıza Aydın | Former Rapporteur of the Constitutional Court

Ali Rıza Güngen | Author

Ali Yıldırım | Researcher, Author

Arda Kavaklıoğlu | Actor, Voice Actor

Arzu Kılıçdoğan | Painter

Asaf Güven Aksel | Author

Ataol Behramoğlu | Poet

Atilla Aşut | Journalist, Author

Atilla Atala | Cartoonist

Atilla Özsever | Academic, Author

Aydemir Güler | THTM Executive Board Member, Author

Aydın Aydoğan | Human Rights Activist

Aydın Sayman | Secretary General of the Turkish Cinema Foundation, Director, Producer

Ayhan Filazi | Prof. Dr. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Academic

Ayşe Şule Süzük | Author

Aytunç Erkin | Journalist, Author

Aziz Konukman | Prof. Dr. Economics

Azmi Toğuzata | Musician

Barış Terkoğlu | Journalist, Author

Barış Pehlivan | Journalist, Author

Bekir Öz | Actor, Screenwriter

Berceste Akgün | Theater Artist

Berkay Önoğlu | TKP Central Committee Member, Communist Youth of Turkey

Beyza Çelik Demircioğlu | Substitute Member of the EMO Istanbul Branch Executive Board

Burak Ustaoğlu | Former Secretary General of KESK Haber-Sen

Burçak Özoğlu | Dr. Labor Relations, Academic, Author

Bülent Cengiz | Prof. Dr. Physician

Bülent Seyitdanlioğlu | Retired Administrative Judge, Jurist

Cahit Berkay | Musician

Can Emrah Ülgü | President of United Metal-Work Istanbul Branch No. 1

Canan Kaya | Journalist

Canan Koç | Union Expert, Author

Candan Buyraz | General Organization Secretary of the Office-Work Union

Cangül Örnek | Prof. Dr. International Relations, Academic, Author

Canol Kocagöz | Cartoonist

Cansu Fırıncı | Theater Artist

Celil Denktaş | Translator, Author

Cem Kılınç | Pharmacist

Cem Tüzün | Industrial Engineer, Farmer

Cemil Fuat Hendek | Author

Cengiz Arın | Academic, Political Science

Ceyda Karan | Journalist

Coşkun Göle | Cartoonist

Çağatay Tavşanoğlu | Prof. Dr. Academic

Çağrı Kınıkoğlu | Director

Dengin Ceyhan | Musician

Derman Boztok | Physician, President of the Physicians for Social Responsibility (NÜSED)

Derya Uğur | President of the General Health-Work Union

Devrim Hacısalihlioğlu | Journalist

Dilşat Zulkadiroğlu | Documentary Director

Dinçer Pilgir | Cartoonist

Ece Ataer | Author

Ekin Oyan Altuntaş | Prof. Dr. International Politics

Ekrem Ataer | Musician, Author

Ekrem Kılıç | Cartoonist

Elif Ajdarkosh | Painter

Emel Diril | Lawyer, Spokesperson for the Çiğli People's Assembly

Emin İgüs | Musician

Emre Aygen | Journalist

Ender Helvacıoğlu | Author

Ender Yiğit | Theater Artist

Engin Akyürek | Prof. Dr. Art Historian

Engin Ayça | Director

Engin Solakoğlu | Retired Diplomat

Engin Umut Akkaya | Academic

Enver Aysever | Journalist, Author

Enver Yaser Küçükgül | Environmental Engineer

Ercan Küçük | Journalist, Author

Erdinç Özer | Education-Work Hakkari Representative President

Erhan Karaçay | Electrical Engineer

Erhan Nalçacı | Prof. Dr., Author

Erhan Yaşar Babalık | Cartoonist

Esen Gökdoğan | Spokesperson for the Çeşme People's Assembly

Evin Okçuoğlu | Author

Fahrettin Fidan | Journalist

Fahri Kaan Arslan | Academic, Journalism

Fatih Yaşlı | Academic, Author

Fatma Tanrıkulu | Education-Work Batman Branch President

Ferit Avcı | Cartoonist

Fevzi Engin | Academic, Economics

Fikret Başkaya | Author

Fırat Gedikoglu | Journalist

Fulya Girginer | Spokesperson for the Kadıköy People's Assembly

Gamze Yücesan | Prof. Dr., Author

Gazi Çeliker | Member of the General Health-Work Union Headquarters Executive Board

Gökalp Eren | Former President of the Sixty-Eighters Union

Gökhan Atılgan | Academic, Author

Gökhan Kazbek | Journalist

Gökmen Dumlu | Lawyer, Spokesperson for the Kartal People's Assembly

Gökmen Karadağ | Journalist

Gül Atmaca | Journalist, Author

Gülcan Altan | Musician

Güldal Okuducu | Former Member of Parliament

Güler Akıncı | Former Deputy Secretary General of the Association for Supporting Contemporary Life (ADD)

Gülsen Tuncer | Actor

Hakan Mustafa Çelik | Painter

Hakan Tabakan | Playwright

Haluk Çetin | Musician

Haluk Hepkon | Journalist, Author

Haluk Polat | Musician

Harun Güzeloğlu | Theater Artist, Author

Hasan Gören | Man of Letters, Author

Hasan Sivri | Journalist

Hasan Yükselir | Musician

Hatice İkinci | Journalist, Author

Hazal Yalın | Translator, Author

Hilmi Etikan | Photographer, Documentary Filmmaker

Hizam Hasırcı | Spokesperson for the Defne People's Assembly

Hülya Küçükaras | Computer Engineer

Hüseyin Çakmak | Cartoonist (TRNC)

Hüseyin Özel | Prof. Dr. Economics

Hüseyin Özkaynak | President of the DİSK Retired-Union Central Disciplinary Board

Iraz Akış | Prof. Dr. Veterinarian, Academic

Işıl Dural | Painter

İlyas Salman | Artist

İnönü Alpat | Author

İrfan Ertel | Painter

İrvem Keskinoğlu | Psychologist, Translator. Former DİSK Mine-Work Training Expert

İsmail Hakkı Değirmencioğlu | Musician

İsmet Orhan | Journalist

İsmail Üstün | Retired Lecturer

İsmail Tutoğlu | Former President of United Public-Work, Samsunumut Editor-in-Chief

İzzettin Önder | Prof. Dr. Economics

Kaya Güvenç | Engineer

Kaya Tokmakçıoğlu | Author

Kemal Okuyan | General Secretary of the TKP

Kıvanç El | President of the Contemporary Journalists Association (ÇGD)

Korkut Boratav | Prof. Dr. Economics

Latif Tiftikçi | Theater Artist

Latife Ulutaş | PSAKD Malatya Branch President

Levent Ülgen | Theater Artist

Levent Üzümcü | Theater Artist

Mahinur Akkaya | Academic

Mahmut Şengül | President of the United Retirees Union

Mehmet Aksoy | Sculptor

Mehmet Ali Dikerdem | Academic

Mehmet Ali Güller | Journalist, Author

Mehmet Barış | Poet

Mehmet Kuşçu | Former Auditor of the Court of Accounts

Mehmet Okuroğlu | Theater Artist

Mehmet Somel | Prof. Dr. Geneticist

Melike Demirağ | Musician

Melike Efendioğlu | Educator

Melis Gönenç | Journalist, Author

Merdan Yanardağ | Journalist, Author

Mesut Eren | Painter

Mesut Odman | Author, Poet

Metin Coşkun | Theater Artist

Muharrem Kılıç | Former Member of Parliament

Murat Akad | Turkish Peace Committee

Murat Beşer | Music Critic

Murat Güner | Musician

Musa Özuğurlu | Journalist

Mustafa Büyüksipahi | Journalist

Mustafa Demir | Former President of Eğit-Der

Mustafa Durmuş | Prof. Dr. Economics

Mustafa Kemal Erdemol | Journalist, Author

Mustafa Kemal Emirel | Musician

Mustafa Kenan Aybastı | Director

Mustafa Köz | Poet, Author

Mustafa Şen | Prof. Dr.

Mustafa Türkeş | Prof. Dr. International Relations, Academic

Mustafa Zulkadiroğlu | 1970 Dev-Genç Regional Executive Board Member

Müjde Tozbey | Lawyer, President of the Women and Children First Association

Necdet Pamir | Energy Policy Expert, Academic

Necmettin Aydın | President of United Metal-Work Istanbul Branch No. 2

Necmi Oğuzer | Cartoonist (Germany)

Nejat Yavaşoğulları | Musician

Neslihan Eroğlu | Spokesperson for the We Are on the Necks of the Bosses Network

Neval Oğan Balkız | Jurist, Academic, Author

Nevzat Evrim Önal | Assoc. Prof. Dr. Economics, Academic, Author

Nevzat Millioğulları | Education-Union Malatya Branch President

Nihat Behram | Poet, Author

Nur Dolay | Director

Oğuz Ayaz | Director

Oğuz Oyan | Former Member of Parliament, Spokesperson for the People's Assembly of Turkey

Oğuz Tanındı | Archaeologist

Oktar Türel | Prof. Dr. Economics

Olgu Ülkenciler | Painter

Orhan Aydın | Theater Artist

Orhan Eraslan | Former Member of Parliament

Orhan Gökdemir | Journalist, Author

Osman Çutsay | Journalist, Author

Osman Tali | Painter

Ozan Çoban | Musician

Ömer Faruk Eminağaoğlu | Jurist

Ömer Koçağ | Painter

Ömer Şan | Journalist, Term Spokesperson for the Brotherhood of Streams Platform

Ömer Ülkenciler | Graphic Designer

Önder Algedik | Journalist

Önder Yılmaz | President of Education-Work Istanbul Branch No. 6

Özcan Alper | Director

Özcan Arslan | Member of the General Health-Work Union Headquarters Executive Board

Özer Or | Member of the TMMOB Chamber of Civil Engineers Istanbul Branch Executive Board

Özgür Aydın | Prof., President of the Association for Scientific and Social Research (ÜKD)

Özkan Atar | President of BMİS, Vice President of DİSK

Özkan Öztaş | Journalist

Perihan Sarı | Retired Chief Labor Inspector

Rahmi Saltuk | Musician

Rahmi Yıldırım | Journalist

Raşit Kaya | Prof. Dr. Political Science

Reyhan Yıldırım | Man of Letters, Author

Rıfat Okçabol | Prof. Dr. Educational Science

Saadet Ülker | Retired Prof., Former President of the Turkish Nurses Association

Sacit Yörüker | Retired Expert Auditor of the Court of Accounts

Sadık Albayrak | Author, Poet

Sadık Gürbüz | Artist

Sadık Usta | Author

Sait Munzur | Cartoonist

Seda Mit | Painter

Selahattin Karaahmetoğlu | Former Member of Parliament

Selçuk Çiftçi | President of BMİS Gebze Branch No. 1

Semir Arslanyürek | Director, Author

Senan Kara | Theater Artist

Senem Doruk İnam | Women's Solidarity Committees

Serdal Bahçe | Prof. Dr. Economist, Academic

Serdar Şahinkaya | Academic, Author

Serdar Şencan | Painter

Serpil Güvenç | Author

Sinan Sönmez | Prof. Dr. Economist

Şule Aydın | Journalist

Tamer Özlü | Education-Work Trabzon Branch President

Taylan Polat Toraman | President of the Kemalist Direction Movement

Tevfik Kızgınkaya | Author

Tuğrul Keskin | Poet

Turgut Dedeoğlu | President of the DİSK Press-Work Union

Tülin Tankut | Author

Uğur Pişmanlık | Author, Photographer

Ulaş Can | Journalist

Ulaş Özer | Musician

Ümmü Putgül | Theater Artist

Veli Can Karabacak | Secretary General of the General Health-Work Union

Veli Yazıcı | Painter

Volkan Algan | Author

Yalçın Çiftçi | Member of the General Health-Work Union Headquarters Executive Board

Yıldıray Ozan | Prof. Dr. Mathematics, Academic

Yiğit Günay | Journalist

Yiğit Özatalay | Musician

Zeki Çelik | Education-Work Karabük Branch President

Zerrin Bayrakdar | Retired Prof. Dr.

Zeynep Suda | Prof. Dr.

Zuhal Okuyan | Prof. Dr. Physician

Zülal Kalkandelen | Journalist, Author