HDP Europe

The following solidarity statements rose all around the globe for our party after this lawsuit was filed. Herewith we thank you all friends who stand in solidarity with us.

We ask the EU to do more than making statements of concern, and reconsider and reposition the centrality of human rights and democracy as the key to the “positive agenda” that they want to pursue with Turkey – a candidate country.

MEPs wrote to Leyen and Michel and expressed concern about the multiple structural and political problems of Erdoğan’s regime, saying they hope that these issues will be considered and addressed during their meeting with President Erdoğan.

“In the evening of 2 April 2021, police raided Gergerlioğlu’s residence and he was forcefully detained. Interestingly (!), one of the police chiefs who came to arrest him was the very person whom Gergerlioğlu unveiled as a torturer in a speech he made at the parliament in 2019.”

The arrested defendants attended the hearing via video conference in the case where HDP’s former Co-Chairs Figen Yüksekdağ and Selahattin Demirtaş and dismissed Kars Co-Mayor Ayhan Bilgen are also standing trial.

After his prison sentence because of a tweet became final, Gergerlioğlu’s parliamentary mandate was revoked on March 17.

The Kurdish Friendship Group in the European Parliament demanded the acknowledgment of the existing Yazidi governance structures by the Iraqi government, stating that they are ready to play their part in helping to find a peaceful resolution to tensions.

33 MPs of the Federal Assembly of Switzerland have called for pressure on Turkey in a letter which highlights human rights violations committed by the Turkish state in its own country and in Syria, Iraq, Libya and Armenia.

Speaking before the Party Assembly meeting, HDP Co-Chair Sancar said, “HDP is a strong line of thought. For this reason, they cannot close the HDP. The effort to close it is just an open confession of the fact that their own power is coming to an end.”

On behalf of the HDP, we are calling on the international community – lawyers, elected deputies, political parties and all individual and institutions concerned with democratic life in Turkey – to observe the first hearing of the Kobanî case on 26th April 2021 in Ankara.

It is stated that the European Union and the Council of Europe should determine their relations with the current government in Turkey on the basis of ‘Human rights and Democracy’ within EU values.

The left and socialist parties of the Netherlands, Germany, France sent a message of solidarity to the HDP (Peoples’ Democratic Party), saying, “We admire your struggle.”

Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Spokesperson Ebru Günay has made remarks on the closure case against the party, Gergerlioğlu’s detention, the İstanbul Convention and PKK leader Öcalan.

“However, and particularly because Turkey is not just a third country, but a candidate country to the EU, this cannot be pursued at any cost. Human rights and the rule of law should not be sacrificed on the altar of realpolitik.”

In all cities of Turkey and Kurdistan, women have risen in protest in streets, squares and
neighbourhoods against this attack from the state on the women’s right to an equal life free
from violence and demanding the withdrawal of the decision.

“We Members of the European Parliament share the conviction that the upcoming EU summit faces a historic task. We call on the participants of the summit to finally end the appeasement policy towards the Erdogan regime.”

Stripped of his MP status, HDP’s Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu has received a notification indicating that he is expected to hand himself over to the public prosecutor’s office within 10 days; otherwise, a detention warrant will be issued against him.

An investigation has been launched against HDP Co-Chair Mithat Sancar over his speech during the Newroz celebrations in Turkey’s Kurdish-majority province of Diyarbakır on March 21. 13 people were detained yesterday.

We will never forgo the Istanbul Convention. The AKP-MHP masculine alliance which is trying to abolish our rights and gains with a decree has been herewith nullified in the eyes of women!

The power to close down a political party lies with the Constitutional Court in Turkey. Since its foundation in 1963, it has closed 26 parties. Before the establishment of the top court, several political parties had been closed by the Council of Minister, military courts and local courts.