İsmail Çelik has been imprisoned for 30 days in Turkey for allegedly chanting the slogan “Israel murderous, Erdoğan complicit” at a pro-Palestinian demonstration at the IDEF 2025 Defense Industry Exhibition in Istanbul. On 21 August, he was kept in detention following a review of his detention. A disciplinary investigation has also been opened against Çelik, who is currently incarcerated at Marmara Penitentiary No. 1, for criticizing the genocide in Palestine and Turkey’s position on social media during his incarceration. Recently, he issued a statement emphasizing the meaning of his anti-Zionist commitment.
Hi everyone, it is with the nostalgia of being among you that I begin my lines.
Even though I am not at your side, even though I have been thrown into the jails of fascism, my heart, filled with the resistance, anger and hope of the oppressed peoples who are fighting against the imperialists and Zionists, is with you, comrades. Wherever we are, even though our bodies have been chained, we will continue to continue this honorable struggle. Because we, unlike them, do not lean our backs on imperialist interests, but on the struggle of the oppressed peoples. Because we, unlike them, are not thirsty for status, money and blood, but in love with the peoples who resist. For we, even in chains, are those who are free.
I write these lines with mixed feelings. Because being away from you saddens me, but being always in my cause and in my struggle makes me happy. With each difficulty I go through, I think of our cause and of you, and I overcome them one by one. Soon, I will be out of these jails of fascism, and I will be at your side, more motivated and stronger. Together, we will pick up where we left off: shouting our slogans and continuing our struggle.
Don’t worry about me, I’m fine, and even though my body is captive, I’ll be fine as long as you keep fighting. Take good care of yourselves, with my greetings…
THE IMPERIALISTS WILL BE DEFEATED, THE PEOPLES WHO RESIST WILL WIN!
Source: https://secoursrouge.org/turquie-declaration-dun-jeune-prisonnier-politique-antisioniste/