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Opposition Lawmakers in Turkey Block Police from Entering Party Headquarters

HeadlineSep 10, 2025

In Turkey, opposition lawmakers of the Republican People’s Party, the main rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, barricaded themselves inside their party’s headquarters on Monday as police barged in using shields and pepper spray. Earlier, a court had ordered the opposition party’s provincial head in Istanbul to be removed and replaced by another official picked by the court. The party rejected that ruling, as several of its members have been arrested and jailed in the government’s crackdown against the opposition. Here’s Özgür Özel, the chair of the Republican People’s Party.

Özgür Özel: “We will stand against people attacking our republic, with our will as strong as steel and with no fear, with the same determination and perseverance of 105 years ago. We are not afraid, and we will not surrender.”

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