Two young American soldiers were accosted recently on the streets of Istanbul by members of the Youth Union of Turkey. In video footage of the event, paint-filled projectiles are thrown at the two Americans and bags are temporarily placed over their heads. A member of the Youth Union of Turkey tells the men that "because we define you as murderers, as killers, we want you to get out of our land".

The Youth Union of Turkey is a left-wing nationalist revolutionary youth organization founded in 2006. It comprises 65 student clubs and societies from over 40 Turkish universities.

The union advocates the principles of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and Kemalism and opposes any future Turkish membership in the European Union and any cooperation with American imperialism.