As part of Day-Mer’s 27th festival we wanted to discuss recent developments in Turkey and in the Middle East with those directly involved in the daily struggle in this part of the world.

The Middle East has been the scene of countless wars and a playground for big imperialist countries for centuries. Millions of people have died in these wars, most of which were provoked using sectarian divides, and millions have been displaced, as is happening right now in Syria and Iraq. It is the regional reactionary forces and Western imperialists who mostly benefit from these wars, and not the ordinary people.

In recent history we have witnessed the rise of regional terrorist organisations such as Al-Qaida, ISIS and Al-Nusra Front, which are both a direct and indirect result of the activities of big imperialist powers.

Turkey has also got entangled in these developments because of its dangerous foreign policy. In order to suppress Kurdish people’s struggle for equal rights and freedoms and to stop the advance of a Kurdish formation of self-rule in Rojova, northern Syria, Turkish government did not hesitate to cooperate with ISIS, a policy which left Turkey with no friends in the region.

Having increased his grip on power through divisions and polarisation in the country, President Erdogan and his AKP government is now waging a war against their own people. Kurdish towns are being bombarded, opposition and Kurdish MP’s impunity being lifted, politicians, journalists and academics are being prosecuted.

Despite all repression, however, the demand for peace and fraternity is growing.

" PANEL: DEVELOPMENTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST & TURKEY
1 July, Friday,
Time: 18:00
North London Community House

Speakers
Selma Gürkan
President of the
Labour Party
of Turkey

Sezgin Tanrıkulu
CHP İstanbul MP

Çağlar Demirel
HDP
Group Deputy Leader

Fehim Taştekin
Journalist-Writer

Salman Akdeniz
Pir Sultan Abdal
Cultural Association
Maras Branch
Leader "