Levent Kenez/Stockholm
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan continues to support the Free Cause Party (HÜDA-PAR), the political arm of Turkey’s Hizbullah and a fundamentalist party officially allied with the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).
On Sunday, during the two-day 953rd anniversary ceremony commemorating the entry of Turks to Anatolia, Zekeriya Yapıcıoğlu, the leader of HÜDA-PAR, not only attended as a VIP guest but also appeared in photos with high-ranking state officials and cabinet ministers. Notably, Yapıcıoğlu was photographed alongside Devlet Bahçeli, the leader of Turkey’s far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and a partner of President Erdogan. Bahçeli had previously criticized HÜDA-PAR for proposing that Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia, regions with significant Kurdish populations, could potentially become a federation within Turkey. Yapıcıoğlu was also photographed with the commanders of the navy and air force and the minister of defense. Historically, the Turkish Armed Forces have regarded Hizbullah and its affiliated groups as terrorist organizations and have engaged in armed conflict with them.
During the second day of events on Monday, the stage was again set for a photo opportunity that included Adm. Ercüment Tatlıoğlu, commander of the navy; Gen. Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu, commander of the army; Gen. Ziya Cemal Kadıoğlu, commander of the air force; and Gen. Ali Çardakçı, commander of the gendarmerie. However, the commanders this time chose not to participate. Following the previous day’s photo, which had sparked criticism on social media, Bahçeli still appeared with HÜDA-PAR Chairman Yapıcıoğlu, greeting the audience while clasping hands.
HÜDA-PAR currently has four members in the Turkish Parliament. In May 14, 2023 parliamentary elections the party, which is allied with the AKP, entered parliament on the AKP’s list. In return HÜDA-PAR supported Erdogan in the presidential election held the same day. Despite it having a relatively low vote share, Erdogan had no reservations about including the party in parliament, given the tight race in the presidential election. HÜDA-PAR’s chairman, Yapıcıoğlu, was elected from Istanbul; General Secretary Şehzade Demir from Gaziantep; Diyarbakır Provincial Chairman Faruk Dinç from Mersin; and Spokesperson Serkan Ramanlı from Batman. Shortly after being elected, the HÜDA-PAR MPs resigned from the AKP and began representing HÜDA-PAR in parliament. They still continue to align with the AKP in parliamentary votes.
Before the elections, MHP officials expressed discomfort about being in the same alliance as HÜDA-PAR but did not take any concrete action. Their policy was to avoid leaving the ruling bloc over concerns related to HÜDA-PAR, deeming it not worth the cost.
The Erdoğan government’s support for groups associated with HÜDA-PAR is also aimed at weakening the influence of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in Kurdish areas and intimidating local residents through jihadist groups. Hizbullah, established in the 1980s and gaining prominence in the 1990s by recruiting mainly Kurds in southeastern Turkey, received backing from certain elements within Turkish intelligence to combat the PKK. Many former Hizbullah militants and leaders, who were previously imprisoned, were released through amnesties advocated by the Erdoğan administration and have since fled to Iran.
With the comfort of supporting the government, HÜDA-PAR has increased its activities, while its affiliated groups have been involved in violence.
On June 24 a jihadist group affiliated with the party attacked a Starbucks coffee shop and a Burger King in Diyarbakır to protest against Israel. The crowd, shouting slogans, entered the stores, causing panic among the customers, who were seen fleeing in fear. Some employees and customers were assaulted, and the group caused significant property damage. Security camera footage showed the group chanting, “War, jihad and martyrdom,” with police and security guards appearing to escort rather than intervene. Following a surge of reactions on social media, the governor’s office had an investigation launched into the incident.
On June 9 the same group stormed a dance school event in a Diyarbakır park, assaulting the youngsters dancing. Approximately 50 people, uttering jihadist slogans, dispersed the performers. Numerous ambulances arrived on the scene following the incident, which again saw no police intervention. Several officials from HÜDA-PAR posted messages on social media congratulating the young assailants for their actions.
HÜDA-PAR denies any involvement in these violent incidents and accuses the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) and other Kurdish groups of making false allegations against them.
In May HÜDA-PAR organized rallies across Turkey to commemorate the memory of Hasan Saklanan, a 34-year-old radical Turkish imam employed by the government who was killed when he carried out a knife attack on an Israeli border police officer in Jerusalem on April 30 . This incident starkly highlights Turkey’s disturbing evolution into a breeding ground for extremism under Erdogan. Hizbullah, a separate entity from Lebanon’s Hezbollah but sharing a commitment to Israel’s destruction and supported by Iran, hailed Saklanan as a hero and a martyr.
Since October 7, 2023 HÜDA-PAR has organized mass gatherings in support of the Hamas attacks on Israel and staged rallies in dozens of cities across Turkey. During these demonstrations, antisemitic slurs and pro-Hamas slogans were frequently shouted, while the police refrained from getting involved. Not a single investigation has been launched by prosecutors into any incident that amounted to a hate crime or incitement to violence.
On December 28, 2023 HÜDA-PAR proposed a bill aimed at revoking Turkish citizenship for dual Israeli-Turkish nationals who join the Israeli military and are involved in criminal activities related to the Gaza conflict. The bill also includes provisions for confiscating their assets and prosecuting them criminally. Initially, the bill was referred to four separate committees for debate, with the Justice Committee designated as the primary venue for review. On July 10, 2024 the parliamentary committee approved the bill for consideration on the floor.
This anti-Israel initiative, led by Turkey’s pro-Iran Hizbullah group and supported by President Erdoğan’s party, has raised concerns about sparking a new wave of antisemitic campaigns in Turkey, particularly targeting Jews, regardless of whether they hold Israeli citizenship or are accused of involvement in alleged human rights violations in the Hamas-Israel conflict.
