Dear friends,
In the run-up to the elections, the Turkish government is striking a
blow against civil society. The raids focus on all sectors of the
democratic opposition, from politics, especially the Peoples’ Democratic
Party (HDP), to the press, lawyers and artists.
The government’s continuing systematic repression has reached a new
stage in Erdogan’s election maze. This morning, at least 125 (as of
13:30) journalists, politicians, artists and lawyers were detained in 21
provinces. Dozens of others are wanted.
Against the background of the new repression and arrests, HDP Foreign
Affairs Co-Spokespersons Feleknas Uca and Hişyar Özsoy have written a
*statement*
<https://hdpeurope.eu/2023/04/
which is attached.
There is no longer any question of a fair election campaign. Due to the
ongoing arbitrary, politically motivated closure case
<https://hdpeurope.eu/2023/04/
the HDP had to find its way in the legal labyrinth of Erdogan’s
autocracy. Therefore, the HDP launches its election campaign
<https://hdpeurope.eu/2023/03/
under the banner of the Green Left Party, a member party of the HDP.
Despite these obstacles, repressions, the HDP voters will play their key
role in the coming elections through the Green Left Party.
The Executive Committee of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) *calls*
<https://hdpeurope.eu/2023/04/
“We call on all those who want to put an end to this order of threats
and blackmail, who show the will to come to terms with the illegitimacy
that has been practised for years, to take an open stand against these
attacks.”
We would be very pleased about your statements and solidarity.
If you have any questions on the topic or need further information, for
example on interview partners or articles, please do not hesitate to
contact us.
Best regards,
Devriş Çimen
European representative of the HDP in Europe
—
Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP)
Representation in Europe
46, Rue d’Arlon
1000-Bruxelles
Office tel: +32 2 503 86 19
E-Mail: hdpeurope@skynet.be
Twitter: @HDP_Europe
Website: www.hdpeurope.eu
25 April 2023
Police operations against the HDP and civil society organizations
As we approach the general and presidential elections on 14 May, the AKP–MHP government, out of fear of losing power, has once again resorted to detention operations. On 25 April 2023, at least 110 people were detained, including our deputy co–chair Ms. Özlem Gündüz, member of the central executive board, Mr. Mahfuz Güleryüz and dozens of our members.
The police raids carried out as part of a Diyarbakır based investigation mostly targeted the HDP and organizations including Mezopotamya News Agency (MA), Yeni Yaşam newspaper, and the Lawyers for Freedom Association (ÖHD. The operations have spread to 21 cities of Turkey and dozens of people, including journalists, politicians, lawyers, artists, and activists have been detained. The charges against the detainees are still unclear because there is a confidentiality order on the investigation. Among the detainees are Ferhat Çelik, owner of the Mezopotamya News Agency (MA), Abdurrahman Gök, an editor at the agency, Osman Akın, managing editor of the daily Yeni Yaşam newspaper, and Kadri Esen, the publisher of Xwebûn newspaper, the only Kurdish newspaper in Turkey.
The government, which has been trying to prolong its life with political coups, massacres, black propaganda, special warfare methods, threats, blackmail, and all kinds of attacks since 2015, has started a new political coup against the 14 May elections with the detentions this morning. This operation is against the elections and the will of the people. It is a clear intimidation and threat to society and to its political preferences. It is not a coincidence that lawyers who will protect the ballot boxes and fight against unlawfulness, journalists who will inform the public, and politicians who are fighting the AKP in the field are being targeted
simultaneously.
These attacks of the AKP are futile efforts that will never yield results. Our people, and all social segments whose will is threatened, will give the best response to these attacks through their votes in the elections.
Feleknas Uca & Hişyar Özsoy
HDP’s Co–spokespersons for Foreign Affairs
Police operations against HDP and civil society organizations