The GMB Congress has released a statement in support of the HDP this week after their fantastic election result. The Kurdish-Turkish peace process was one item of discussion at this weekend’s GMB Congress in Dublin, where a fringe meeting was also held to discuss the need to release Abdullah Ocalan’s release from prison.

GMB CONGRESS WELCOME GAINS FOR KURDS IN TURKISH ELECTION AS A VICTORY FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS IN TURKEY

GMB Congress extends its solidarity to the HDP and sent a message of support to the party on their success and the challenges that lie ahead

The 98th GMB Congress in Dublin welcomed the success of the HDP in the 7 June Turkish general election where it achieved 13% of the vote on a stance of pluralist democracy and a peaceful resolution to the Kurdish Question within Turkey and for an end to the support for ISIS in the Syrian conflict.

The HDP has successfully built a broad alliance including Kurds, other minorities, workers, women and LGBT campaigners. Amongst their 80 elected MPs are Kurds, Turks, Armenians, Christians, Yezidis, Muslims and even one Roma, with the highest proportion of women ever elected.

Emma Sinclair-Webb, senior researcher for Human Rights Watch in Turkey, said “Turks and Kurds are well ahead of the political leaders of the country, and they have a lot of expectations of the democratic process that they have well bought into,” This is a very impressive outcome. It shows that Turkey is going through an important political maturing process, and that an increasing number of people are interested in a pluralistic society.”

Bert Schouwenburg, GMB International Officer, said “The HDP success is a huge victory for the Kurdish people who have suffered decades of oppression but who have organised to work for democracy and peace and achieved this breakthrough despite accusations of being terrorists, violence against their activists and a hostile media. GMB Congress extends its solidarity to the HDP and all who work for peace in the region and in the diaspora and agrees to send a message of support to the party on their success and the challenges that lie ahead.”

Ibrahim Dogus of the Centre for Kurdish Progress, speaking at GMB Congress said “We are delighted with the solidarity we have received from GMB Congress and we look forward to a fruitful relationship between the union and the Kurdish community in the future.”

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Bert Schouwenburg , GMB International Officer, 07974 251 764 or Ibrahim Dogus of the Centre for Kurdish Progress  07525 185288 or GMB press office 07974 2521823