Protests in North Kurdistan against attack on HDP members in Istanbul

In various cities of North Kurdistan, multiple protests took place in response to the attack carried out against the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) headquarters in Bahçelievler district of Istanbul.

Amed

HDP Amed Provincial Organisation staged a protest with the participation of several politicians, organisations and political parties.

The protest action was joined by members of the Kurdish Free Women’s Movement (TJA), Peace Mothers Council, and Workers’ Party of Turkey (TİP), as well as representatives of various NGOs. The crowd frequently chanted slogans such as “Down with fascism”, “Pressures cannot intimidate us”, and “We will bring the AKP to account for Deniz” behind banners reading, “These fascist attacks will be brought to account one day” and “HDP is the hope, HDP stands tall”.

Recalling the attack in Izmir, which claimed the life of Deniz Poyraz in June, Amed Provincial Co-chair of Gülistan Atasoy said, “At every turn, rulers of this country treat each massacre as an ‘isolated incident’. They try to normalize the massacres. Yet, we will not allow this.” Atasoy remarked that the HDP is the only political party which defends peace against the existing hostile system, and this is why the HDP is constantly pointed as a target. Condemning the inaction of security forces and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, she said, “Yesterday, we came to the brink of a massacre, and we survived by chance.”

“No matter what they do, we will frustrate their fascist attacks. We did not forget the massacres carried out in Ankara, Suruç and Amed. Perpetrators of these massacres will absolutely be brought to account before justice one day”, said Provincial Co-chair Zeyyat Ceylan.

Batman

HDP Batman Provincial Organisation held a press conference in front of the party headquarters with the participation of HDP’s deposed co-mayors Mehmet Demir and Songül Korkmaz, Peace Mothers and a large number of residents.

Speaking here, HDP Provincial Co-chair Ömer Kulpu said, “The HDP is a political party of resistance. It never steps back against such attacks. They attack the HDP because of their fears.”

Siirt

The protest organised by the HDP Siirt Provincial Organisation was participated by HDP MP Sıddık Taş, Peace Mothers, members of the TJA and various NGOs. The activists chanted slogans such as “HDP is the people, the people are here”.

HDP MP Sıddık Taş condemned the attacks and remarked that the assailants are encouraged by the President Erdoğan and Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu, who constantly point the HDP as a target.

Dersim

Dersim Labour and Democracy Platform held a press conference condemning the attack on the HDP headquarters. The crowd displayed a banner reading, “We stand with the HDP against racist and fascist attacks.”

Speaking at the press conference, HDP Dersim Deputy Alican Önlü said, “The palace produces discriminative, polarizing and hostile policies, while the partisan media propagating this hostility and judiciary promotes impunity against such attacks. With a common struggle and alliance for democracy, we will respond to these attacks.”

Underlining that the attack was carried out on the anniversary of the Roboski Massacre and, one day before the trial in the slaughter of Deniz Poyraz, Ergin Altay, Dersim Provincial Chair of the Labour Party (EMEP), defined the attack as the political power’s effort to remain in power by causing chaos. He added, “Lack of serious investigations against perpetrators and the unhesitating manner of assailants indicate that these attacks are directed by a single center.”

Şırnak

HDP Şırnak Provincial Organisation protested the attack on the HDP Bahçelievler headquarters with the participation of HDP Şırnak Deputies Nuran İmir and Hasan Özgüneş, as well as a large number of HDP members. Condemning the criminalizing language against the HDP, Özgüneş shared messages of resistance.

Urfa

Speaking at the press conference in protest at the attack against the HDP, Urfa Provincial Co-chair Ziya Çalışkan accused the AKP-MHP bloc of instigating all the attacks against the HDP, and remarked that these provocations will not extend the lifetime of their power.

Van

In Van, HDP Provincial Organisation held a press conference in front of the party office with the participation of HDP Van Deputy Muazzez Orhan and administrators of HDP provincial and district organisations.

Lawyer Sedat Düşünmez from HDP Van Provincial Organisation Legal Affairs Commission expressed that the AKP-MHP bloc turned the country into hell in order to remain in power, and that those pointing the HDP as a target are instigators of these attacks.

Hakkari

Speaking at the protest held in Hakkari, HDP Provincial Co-chair Lokman Özdemir said, “All these attacks against the HDP should be treated as onslaughts targeting the will of peoples of Turkey. They cannot break our willpower. Our march on the way of fraternity will achieve victory.”

A protest action took place in Şemdinli district, too.

Ağrı

HDP Ağrı Provincial Organisation condemned the attack at a press conference. Erol Berke from the Provincial Executive Board of the HDP said, “We are familiar with such attacks; we did not forget the slaughter of our comrade Deniz Poyraz. Our members once again faced a murderous assailant. We will never surrender against these attacks.”

Bingöl

A protest action took place in Karlıova district of Bingöl with the participation of a large number of HDP members and citizens. During the action, speakers called for a common struggle.