Istanbul March Highlights Youth Push for Secular, Socialist Turkey Amidst Political Tensions
ISTANBUL, May 19, 2025 — Hundreds of young activists from Türkiye Komünist Gençliği (TKG), the youth wing of the Communist Party of Turkey, marched through the streets of Istanbul today, calling for a secular, egalitarian, and independent Turkey. The demonstration, held under the banner "We are marching for socialism within the republic," underscores the growing activism among Turkey's youth amidst a backdrop of economic hardship and political unrest.
The march, captured in images shared by TKG on social media, featured participants carrying red and yellow flags with socialist symbols and Turkish national emblems. The event is part of a broader wave of protests that have swept Turkey since March 2025, following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and other opposition figures, as detailed in recent reports.
TKG's post on X (formerly Twitter) emphasized their commitment to resisting what they describe as imperialist influences and domestic collaborators, vowing not to relinquish the country to "bosses and reactionaries." The group specifically called on like-minded individuals to join their ranks, highlighting the role of young people in recent public movements.
This activism occurs against a complex political landscape where secularism, or "laiklik," remains a contentious issue. Historical reforms by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk established a secular state, but recent years have seen debates over the extent of religious influence in public life, as noted in academic discussions and public opinion surveys from 2017, which showed strong support for a secular state among Turks.
Economically, Turkey's youth face significant challenges, with unemployment rates hovering around 19.26% in 2022, according to MacroTrends data, reflecting broader global trends of youth disenfranchisement under neoliberal policies. TKG's march is thus not only a political statement but also a response to these socio-economic pressures.
The demonstration comes at a time when Turkey is grappling with an economic crisis, exacerbated by the Turkish lira's sharp decline following İmamoğlu's arrest. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has labeled such protests as "street terror," further polarizing the political climate.
As Turkey navigates these turbulent waters, the voices of its youth, demanding a return to secular and socialist principles, add another layer to the ongoing narrative of resistance and reform in the country.
