Kavel Alpaslan is a journalist based in Turkey and a regular contributor to Evrensel. He covers Marxist history and social movements.

June 01, 2026

• Kavel Alpaslan

In Turkey, Criticizing a Corporation Can Land You in Jail

Turkish labor leader Mehmet Türkmen was jailed for spreading “disinformation” after he criticized a business where a worker lost both arms in an accident. It’s part of a wider crackdown designed to suppress trade unions that speak up for workers.

April 21, 2025

• Kavel Alpaslan
• Lara Villalón

Labor’s Role in the Fight for Turkish Democracy

The arrest of Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu has prompted more than a month of protests in Turkey. The demonstrations have rallied many working-class Turks, but they’ve also shown the limited strength of organized labor.