View source for Marxist–Leninist Communist Party (Turkey)

{{For|other communist parties in Turkey|Communist Party of Turkey (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox political party
| name = Marxist–Leninist Communist Party
| logo = MLKP Badge.svg
| logo_size = 200px
| colorcode = Red
| leader =
| president =
| chairman =
| general_secretary =
| first_secretary =
| secretary_general =
| presidium =
| secretary =
| spokesperson =
| foundation = {{start date and age|df=yes|1994|09|10}}
| ideology = [[Communism]]<br />[[Marxism–Leninism]]<br />[[Anti-revisionism]]<br />[[Hoxhaism]]
| headquarters =
| international = [[International Coordination of Revolutionary Parties and Organizations|ICOR]]<br />[[International Freedom Battalion|IFB]]
| website = {{url|http://www.mlkp-info.org/}}
| country = Turkey
| native_name = Marksist-Leninist Komünist Partisi
| native_name_lang = tr
| merger = [[Communist Party of Turkey/Marxist–Leninist – Hareketi|TKP/ML-Hareketi]]<br />TKİH<br />[[Communist Party of Turkey/Marxist–Leninist (New Build-Up Organization)|TKP/ML (YIÖ)]]
| position = [[Far-left politics|Far-left]]
| youth_wing = Komünist Gençlik Örgütü
| womens_wing = Komünist Kadın Örgütü
| wing1_title = Armed wing
| wing1 = Fakirlerin ve Ezilenlerin Silahlı Kuvvetleri
| national = [[Peoples' United Revolutionary Movement|HBDH]]<ref name="anfenglish.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.anfenglish.com/news/peoples-united-revolutionary-movement-established-for-a-joint-struggle|title=Peoples' United Revolutionary Movement established for a joint struggle|publisher=Firat News Agency|date=2016-03-12|access-date=2016-03-14|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314061916/http://www.anfenglish.com/news/peoples-united-revolutionary-movement-established-for-a-joint-struggle|archive-date=14 March 2016}}</ref>
|
| flag = [[File:MLKP Banner.svg|200px]]
}}
The '''Marxist–Leninist Communist Party''' ({{langx|tr|Marksist-Leninist Komünist Partisi}}, abbreviated as ''MLKP'') is an underground [[Hoxhaist]] [[communist party]] in [[Turkey]]. It was founded in 1994, and has been involved in the [[Rojava conflict]] since 2012.
==History==
MLKP was formed in September 1994, through the unification of the [[Communist Party of Turkey/Marxist-Leninist - Hareketi]] (TKP/ML-Hareketi) and the [[Communist Workers Movement of Turkey]] (TKİH). TKP/ML-Hareketi was the larger of the two. Both groups came from the pro-[[Party of Labour of Albania|Albanian]] camp. The unity process of negotiations between the groups had started in 1989. Initially MLKP called itself MLKP-Kuruluş (MLKP-Foundation).
In September 1995, at the first congress of MLKP-K, the [[Communist Party of Turkey/Marxist-Leninist (New Build-Up Organization)]] (TKP/ML (YİÖ)) merged into the party, and the name was changed to MLKP. Later the same year a split occurred, and the [[Communist Party - Build-up Organization]] (KP-İÖ) was formed.
MLKP is designated as an active terrorist organisation in Turkey by the Counter-Terrorism and Operations Department of the [[General Directorate of Security (Turkey)|General Directorate of Security]].<ref>TÜRKİYE'DE HALEN FAALİYETLERİNE DEVAM EDEN BAŞLICA TERÖR ÖRGÜTLERİ: {{cite web|url=http://www.egm.gov.tr/temuh/terorgrup1.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=15 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130114042731/http://www.egm.gov.tr/temuh/terorgrup1.html |archive-date=14 January 2013 }}</ref> During the [[Ergenekon (organization)|Ergenekon]] investigation, it was claimed by prosecutors that Ergenekon planned to take over the MLKP, as well as the PKK, and that it was successful to a certain extent.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://bianet.org/bianet/minorities/113418-ergenekon-reveals-connections-with-pkk-and-marxist-leninists| title = Ergenekon Reveals "Connections with PKK and Marxist-Leninists" - Erhan Üstündağ - bianet}} </ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://odatv4.com/nato-protestolarinin-altindan-ergenekon-cikti-0504091200.html|title = Nato Protestolarinin Altindan Ergenekon Çikti| date=5 April 2009 }}</ref> In the same investigation, it was found that the hand grenades found in Lieutenant Colonel Mustafa Dönmez' had the same series number as those used by the MLKP.
==Organisation==
The youth wing of MLKP is called the [[Communist Youth Organization]] (''{{lang|tr|Komünist Gençlik Örgütü}}'' in Turkish, abbreviated as ''KGÖ'').
MLKP maintains an armed wing named Armed Forces of the Poor and the Oppressed (''Fakirlerin ve Ezilenlerin Silahlı Kuvvetleri'' in Turkish, abbreviated as ''FESK''). The group had international exposure at the [[Hilton Istanbul Bosphorus]] bombing prior to [[2004 Istanbul summit]] where four people were killed.<ref>[http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-06/25/content_342471.htm Bombs explode in Turkey before Bush, NATO summit], [[China Daily]], 24 June 2004</ref> In April 2015, it was announced that MLKP founded a permanent military training centre in [[Kurdistan Workers' Party|PKK]]-controlled areas of the [[Iraqi Kurdistan]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.etha.com.tr/Haber/2015/04/27/politika/mlkp-komutani-can-gerilla-tarzi-yasam-bizim-gelece/ |title=MLKP komutanı Can: 'Gerilla tarzı yaşam bizim geleceğimizdir' |access-date=27 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019110319/http://www.etha.com.tr/Haber/2015/04/27/politika/mlkp-komutani-can-gerilla-tarzi-yasam-bizim-gelece/ |archive-date=19 October 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In July 2015, they attempted bomb attack on [[Star Media Group (Turkey)]].<ref>[https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/2015/07/24/attempted-bomb-attack-on-turkeys-star-media-group-a-sequel-to-hdp-leader-demirtass-speech-media-association Attempted bomb attack on Turkey's Star Media Group a sequel to HDP leader Demirtaş' speech: Media Association], [[Daily Sabah]], 24 July 2015</ref>
The organisation has had three periodicals:  {{lang|tr|Atılım}} (''The Leap'') (or ''{{lang|tr|Yeni Atılım}}'' (The New Leap)), a daily news bulletin, ''{{lang|tr|Partinin Sesi}}'' (The Voice of the Party), an institutional publication and ''{{lang|tr|Teoride Doğrultu}}'' (The Direction in Theory), a theoretical-political journal).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.broadleft.org/tr.htm|title=Leftist Parties of Turkey|access-date=28 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730090448/http://www.broadleft.org/tr.htm|archive-date=30 July 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> The 26th and last issue of {{lang|tr|Teoride Doğrultu}} was published in 2006.<ref>Teoride Doğrultu {{cite web|url=http://www.teoridedogrultu.org/ |title=TEORİDE DOĞRULTU / İki Aylık Teorik-Politik Dergi |access-date=2008-07-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080518215600/http://www.teoridedogrultu.org/ |archive-date=18 May 2008 }}</ref>
===Human Resources===
A study carried out by the Counter-Terrorism and Operations Department of General Directorate of Security over a sample of files about people convicted of being a terrorist under Turkish laws including 826 militants from the organisation and the three other currently active left-wing organisations (see reference 1) 65% of the members are aged 14 to 25, 16.8% 25 to 30 and 17.5% are older than 30.  University graduates make up 20.4% of the members, high school graduates 33.5%, secondary school graduates 14%, primary school graduates 29.9% and illiterates 1.9% (while they have no sampled literate non-graduate members).<ref>Zaman. 25 December 2007. "Dikkat: Hangi yasadışı örgüte kimler üye olur?".  http://www.iyibilgi.com/haber.php?haber_id=47595 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322185613/http://www.iyibilgi.com//haber.php?haber_id=47595 |date=22 March 2016 }}</ref>
==Involvement in Syrian Civil War==
MLKP has reportedly been sending volunteers to Syria to fight with the [[Democratic Union Party (Syria)|PYD]]'s [[People's Protection Units]] (YPG) of [[Rojava]] (Syrian Kurdistan) since 2012. At least four of these fighters have been killed in battle as of February 2015—one during the [[Battle of Ras al-Ayn]], and three during the [[Siege of Kobanî]]. MLKP has also declared its intention to form a leftist international brigade within the YPG, modeled after the famous [[International Brigades]] who fought on the side of the [[Second Spanish Republic]] in the [[Spanish Civil War]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Demir |first1=Arzu |title=Preparations for international brigade in Rojava |url=http://en.firatnews.com/news/news/preparations-for-international-brigade-in-rojava.htm |access-date=11 February 2015 |agency=Firat News Agency |date=28 January 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211120154/http://en.firatnews.com/news/news/preparations-for-international-brigade-in-rojava.htm |archive-date=11 February 2015 }}</ref> The party released a video in late January 2015 purporting to show several Spanish- and German-speaking communist volunteers from Europe among its ranks in [[Jazira Canton]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.etha.com.tr/Haber/2015/01/28/guncel/enternasyonal-devrimciler-her-dilden-devrimi-savun/|title=Enternasyonal devrimciler: Her dilden devrimi savunuyoruz|date=28 January 2015|publisher=Etkin Haber Ajansı|language=tr|access-date=11 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705174922/http://www.etha.com.tr/Haber/2015/01/28/guncel/enternasyonal-devrimciler-her-dilden-devrimi-savun/|archive-date=5 July 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> In March 2015, [[Ivana Hoffmann]], a MLKP member and German national and daughter of a German mother and a [[Togo]]lese father,<ref>[https://www.derwesten.de/staedte/emmerich/ivanas-vater-ist-fassungslos-id10445267.html Vater der getöteten Duisburger Kämpferin Ivana ist fassungslos] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160125084020/http://www.derwesten.de/staedte/emmerich/ivanas-vater-ist-fassungslos-id10445267.html |date=25 January 2016 }} derwesten.de ([[German language|German]])</ref> was reported to be killed in clashes with the [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant]].<ref>{{cite news|title=German woman fighting ISIL killed in Syria|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/3/9/german-woman-fighting-isil-killed-in-syria|access-date=11 March 2015|agency=[[Al Jazeera English|Al Jazeera]]|date=9 March 2015}}</ref>
The MLKP has set up a political branch in PYD-governed territories as well, known as MLKP (Rojava).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://anfenglish.com/rojava-northern-syria/mlkp-celebrates-25th-anniversary-in-kobane-29561 |title=MLKP celebrates 25th anniversary in Kobanê |work=ANF News |date=11 September 2018 |access-date=17 February 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://anfenglish.com/rojava-northern-syria/mlkp-rojava-celebrates-the-july-19-rojava-revolution-28359 |title=MLKP Rojava celebrates the July 19 Rojava Revolution |work=ANF News |date=19 July 2018 |access-date=17 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218021528/https://anfenglish.com/rojava-northern-syria/mlkp-rojava-celebrates-the-july-19-rojava-revolution-28359 |archive-date=18 February 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
MLKP fighters have also joined [[Kurdistan Workers' Party]] (PKK) formations [[December 2014 Sinjar offensive|fighting]] in northern Iraq in defence of the [[Yezidi]] minority of [[Sinjar]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://en.firatnews.com/news/news/mlkp-fighter-we-will-be-at-the-front-until-sinjar-is-liberated.htm |title=MLKP fighter: We will be at the front until Sinjar is liberated |date=29 December 2014 |publisher=Firat News Agency |access-date=11 February 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128055019/http://en.firatnews.com/news/news/mlkp-fighter-we-will-be-at-the-front-until-sinjar-is-liberated.htm |archive-date=28 January 2015 }}</ref>
==See also==
* [[List of illegal political parties in Turkey]]
* [[Socialist Party of the Oppressed]]
* [[Marxist–Leninist Party (Communist Reconstruction)]]
==References==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
==External links==
{{Commons category|Marksist Leninist Komünist Parti}}
*{{Official website|http://www.mlkp.info/}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20180823033046/http://www.etha.com.tr/ Etha - news portal related to MLKP]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20190526032914/http://www.atilimhaber.org/ Atılım - newspaper related to MLKP]
{{Turkey–PKK conflict}}
{{Peoples' United Revolutionary Movement}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Marxist-Leninist Communist Party (Turkey)}}
[[Category:1994 establishments in Turkey]]
[[Category:Anti-ISIL factions in Turkey]]
[[Category:Banned communist parties]]
[[Category:Banned political parties in Turkey]]
[[Category:Communist militant groups]]
[[Category:Communist parties in Turkey]]
[[Category:Far-left politics in Turkey]]
[[Category:Guerrilla organizations]]
[[Category:Hoxhaist parties]]
[[Category:International Coordination of Revolutionary Parties and Organizations]]
[[Category:International Freedom Battalion]]
[[Category:Kurdish organisations]]
[[Category:Left-wing militant groups in Turkey]]
[[Category:Military units and factions of the Syrian civil war]]
[[Category:Organizations designated as terrorist by Turkey]]
[[Category:Peoples' United Revolutionary Movement]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1994]]
[[Category:Political parties in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria]]
[[Category:Organizations based in Asia designated as terrorist]]