Turkey is facing a severe crisis in terms of democracy, the rule of law, economic stability, fundamental rights, and freedoms, alongside recent developments in domestic and foreign policy. The incidents we experience daily, which we are expected to grow accustomed to, paint a worrying picture for our country's future. The imposition of a travel ban and judicial control measures on the President of TÜSİAD is a decision that significantly undermines capital movements and economic confidence in Turkey. 

Up until now, people have generally defined and confined lawlessness to their own neighborhoods. The government, opposition, media, civil society organizations, and intellectuals must learn to see events through one another’s eyes, to feel with one another’s hearts, to share our collective pain, and to heal our wounds together. We must regain the consciousness of being an enlightened society. Turkey’s future depends on the protection of freedoms and democratic values.

The government has embraced the construction of prisons and the incarceration of people as a method of governance. In the past six months alone, 50,000 people have been arrested. While victims of legal injustice in prisons wait for a general amnesty, the government continues to pursue new arrests. The Constitutional Court has found violations of rights in 98% of the individual applications submitted. Meanwhile, the Minister of Justice claims, “We have ensured legal security in the Century of Turkey.”

Turkey urgently needs a liberal approach. Both a free market and broad rights and freedoms will contribute immensely to our nation's path toward a civilized and prosperous life. As liberals, we refuse to accept the unnecessary squandering of our people's potential in this beautiful country.

We declare that poverty is not destiny by stating: "EİTHER LİBERAL GOVERNANCE OR POVERTY!"