Mihri Belli facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mihri Belli
Born	December 1915 Silivri, Ottoman Empire
Died	August 16, 2011 Istanbul
Resting place	Feriköy Cemetery, Istanbul
Nationality	Turkish
Education	Economics
Alma mater	Robert College, University of Mississippi
Occupation	Politician
Known for	his thesis "National Democratic Revolution"
Political party	Communist Party of Turkey (TKP), Workers Party of Turkey (TİP), Labour Party of Turkey (TEP) Freedom and Solidarity Party (ÖDP), Socialist Democracy Party (SDP) Workers' Socialist Party (İSP)

Mihri Belli (born December 1915 – died August 16, 2011) was an important leader in Turkey's socialist movement. He was known for fighting on the communist side during the Greek Civil War.

Mihri Belli faced many challenges because of his political beliefs. He was sent to prison for a total of 11 years. He was also forced to live outside Turkey for 18 years.

He wrote several important books about left-wing ideas in Turkey. For many years, he inspired young people who believed in similar political changes.

Early Life and Education

Mihri Belli was born in 1915 in Silivri, which was then part of the Ottoman Empire. His father, Mahmut Hayrettin Bey, was a key leader in the Turkish War of Independence.

Mihri Belli studied at Robert College in Istanbul. In 1936, he traveled to the United States to study economics at the University of Mississippi. There, he learned about Marxist ideas, which focus on class struggle and revolution. He also took part in the civil rights movement in Mississippi.

Joining the Movement in Turkey

Mihri Belli came back to Turkey in 1940. He joined the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP), which was not allowed by the government at the time.

During this period, Turkey was ruled by a single political party. The government had changed its friendly approach towards the USSR because of World War II. The TKP was the only group that opposed the government. Mihri Belli joined the party and became a member of its central leadership in 1942.

From 1943 to 1944, he worked as an assistant professor at Istanbul University. He also helped start the Progressive Youth Union. In 1944, he was arrested for these activities and spent two years in prison. He was also forced to live away from his home.

Fighting in the Greek Civil War

In 1946, Mihri Belli left Turkey and joined the Greek Civil War. He fought as a guerrilla soldier on the communist side. He became a high-ranking officer in the Democratic Army of Greece. He was injured twice during battles and received medical care in Bulgaria and the USSR.

After returning to Turkey in 1950, he was briefly imprisoned for entering the country without a passport. In 1951, he was arrested again during a large crackdown on the TKP. This time, he was sentenced to seven years in prison. He also faced more forced relocation after his release.

A documentary film was made about his time in Greece. It is called "Captain Kemal, A Comrade."

Leading the Turkish Revolutionary Movement

In the 1960s, Mihri Belli could openly share his ideas without using a fake name. Still, he spent time in prison for his writings and speeches. He helped publish magazines like Türk Solu and Aydınlık Sosyalist Dergi. He later joined the new Workers Party of Turkey (TİP).

During this time, he developed his famous idea called Milli Demokratik Devrim (National Democratic Revolution), or MDD. This idea suggested a specific path for Turkey to achieve social change. In 1964, Mihri Belli also joined the weekly magazine Yön.

Mihri Belli worked with young leaders like Deniz Gezmiş and Mahir Çayan. His MDD ideas quickly became popular among young people who wanted change. These ideas became a main guide for many left-wing groups in Turkey. They also played a big part in the youth movements of 1968 in Turkey.

After the military takeover in 1971, Mihri Belli left Turkey to avoid arrest. He stayed for a while with the Palestinian Liberation Organization. He then moved to Western Europe, where he helped with a magazine called Yurtsever (Patriot). He returned to Turkey when the Republican People's Party (CHP) won the 1973 elections.

In 1975, after a general pardon in 1974, he started the Labour Party of Turkey (TEP). However, the party was quickly banned by the Constitutional Court. This happened because the party asked for equal rights for Kurdish people, which was not allowed at the time.

In 1979, Mihri Belli was attacked and badly injured. After the 1980 military takeover, he moved to the Middle East. From there, he went to Sweden. He closely followed the Kurdish movement until he returned to Turkey in 1992. In 1997, he met with Abdullah Öcalan. They agreed that a solution for the Kurdish issue could be found within a single, united country, based on equality.

In 1996, Mihri Belli helped create the Freedom and Solidarity Party (ÖDP). In 2002, he helped form the Socialist Democracy Party (SDP). He ran as a candidate for parliament in Istanbul in the 2002 elections.

In 2005, an exhibition called "Lines From Prison" showed portraits Mihri Belli had drawn 50 years earlier while in prison. In 2007, he resigned from the SDP with other founding members. In 2008, he helped start the Workers' Socialist Party.

Later Years and Passing

Mihri Belli passed away at his home in Istanbul on August 16, 2011. He died from breathing problems. He was buried in Feriköy Cemetery after a religious funeral service at Şişli Mosque.