International
With huge repression in Turkey, protesters called for an end to Erdogan's regime and for Britain to break links with the authoritarian regime
By Arthur Townend
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Saturday 29 March 2025
Issue
Rally outside Downing Street against Erdogan’s regime
Thousands rallied outside Downing Street in London on Saturday in solidarity with the millions of people who’ve taken to the streets of Turkey against Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s regime.
Hundreds of thousands have taken to the streets across Turkey, confronting police to defend democracy.
The rally jumped, chanted and sang—it was full of Turkish flags and banners of Turkish political parties and organisations.
Protester Ela told Socialist Worker, “We see in Turkey an authoritarian regime trying to maintain power. He has violently cracked down on political opposition before.
Ela argued that the protests in Turkey were a “challenge” to Erdogan who “is losing support because he cannot make life in Turkey better”.
Charlie Kimber from the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) told the rally, “Across the world, we see the march of the far right and fascists.
“But you are not allowing your democracy to be extinguished. Two million people were on the streets of Istanbul this morning. Will you fight to save real democracy in Turkey? Will you stop Erdogan removing the last glimmers of democracy?
“What Erdogan fears above all else is if the working class starts to move.”
Charlie added, “Across there is Keir Starmer. He took benefits from disabled people. He’s wrong to slash benefits, he’s wrong when he supports Israel.
“And he’s wrong when he stands with Erdogan—the British government needs to break all links with Erdogan.”
Murat said the protests are opposing the “entire regime of Erdogan”. “Political repression is the cause, but it’s more than that now,” he told Socialist Worker.
Protests in Turkey were triggered when Erdogan arrested Erkem Imamoglu, the Republican People’s Party (CHP) presidential challenger who is mayor of Istanbul.
“The violence we see against protesters is bad, but it is pushing more people onto the street, against the state,” he added.
“There are big political differences between some people, but we are united against Erdogan.”
“We are here today to demand an end to Erdogan’s regime,” said one speaker from the CHP. “Erdogan has transformed Turkey into a one man government. This is an utter and complete violation of Turkish democracy.
“He is continuing his one man government through the violent suppression of the media,” she added.
Louise Regan from the NEU education union, said, “We know workers’ struggles here are the same as those in Turkey. We will fight for your rights with you
“This imprisonment of the Istanbul mayor is a stark example of how tightly controlled Erdogan’s regime is.
“Our government has remained silent. All of you in trade unions, go to your trade unions and ask them to raise this issue.
“We’ll continue our action to support your action, we will fight with you in your struggles.”
The mass protests against Erdogan have thrown the Turkish regime into crisis. In Britain, we have to fight to break the British state’s support for it.