The Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) staged a protest in Ankara against the Mecca Agreement ahead of a critical parliamentary vote, declaring its opposition to Turkey's involvement in what it described as US- and Israel-backed military aggression against Yemen.
Communist Party of Turkey Protests Mecca Agreement in Ankara
On November 4, shortly before the agreement was due to be debated in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, TKP unfurled a banner from the top of a building in Kızılay, near Parliament. The banner carried the message: “We will not be soldiers of the US and Israel!”
The action followed another protest organized by the party in Kızılay the previous week. Through its latest demonstration, TKP sought to deliver its opposition directly ahead of the parliamentary vote, calling on lawmakers to reject the agreement.
In a statement titled “No to the Mecca Agreement: We Will Not Be Soldiers of Israel, the US or the Saudis!”, the party described the vote as a choice between the US-backed Saudi monarchy and the Yemeni people defending their own land.
TKP warned that the agreement could lead to Turkish Armed Forces missiles joining those of the US, Israel and Saudi Arabia in attacks on Yemen. The party also pointed out the connection to Palestine, stating that the parliamentary vote would determine whether Turkey stood with Palestinian resistance or with genocidal Israel which it accused of providing intelligence support to Saudi Arabia in Riyadh.
The party condemned the government's pursuit of “Neo-Ottoman dreams,” arguing that Turkey must not be drawn into a military operation serving US and Israeli interests. TKP called on parliamentarians to vote against the agreement, warning them not to become accomplices to what it characterized as a crime.
There is only one thing to do to avoid going down in history with a shameful decision and to prevent our country from becoming a partner in this dishonour: vote ‘No’ to the Mecca Agreement.
Addressing members of parliament directly, TKP urged them to use their votes to block the government's plans and prevent Turkey from being dragged into a wider regional conflict.
“Do not become accomplices to this crime; do not make our country a partner in this dishonour,” the party concluded.