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KT Interview:
Professor Dr. Mahmut Toğrul is number two on the HDP’s list of candidates in the city of Gazientep standing for election to the Turkish parliament.
Q: Why are you standing for the HDP?
Mahmut Toğrul: There are a few reasons. First, because it is for the brotherhood of Turkish peoples – Turks, Kurds, Alevis, Sunnis and others. Second, I want the peace process to go on. Third, because Turkish foreign policy, especially in relation to Syria and the Middle East, has had a bad effect for the Turkish peoples. Fourth, because of the danger to the Turkish parliamentary system: if we don’t cross the 10% threshold, one man could decide to change the regime. The HDP can play a very significant role and I am in the party for this reason. The future of Turkey depends on the HDP.
Q: Why is support for the HDP increasing?
Mahmut Toğrul: After the 35 year struggle with the PKK, society wants peace. People want pluralism, not just a majority and a minority. For the last 100 years the Turkish regime has practised monism but the people want pluralism.
Q: Why do so many Kurds still support the ruling AKP?
Mahmut Toğrul: Kurdish assimilation dates back centuries. Kurds have survived a lot of difficultiies and this brought about the integration system and integration parties, and people had to collaborate with this to make their living and meet their needs. To be independent from the system has meant to be an opponent of the system. Not everyone can afford this and so there is a tradition of collaboration. If you need to get a higher post you have to collaborate, and so on. This negates you and turns you into an enemy of the system. With the peace process, there has been the chance to talk about our plight to people in western Turkey. Their ears are open. And now more people are slowly breaking off from the system and its hegemonic thinking.
Q: Is Kobani an important factor in this election?
Mahmut Toğrul: Yes, Kobani is important. It showed Kurdish people that, when oppressed people become united, they can succeed together. On the other hand it was clear that Turkish foreign policy is against Kurdish success and achievements in the Middle East region. The perception is that Turkey is backing up the gang organisations (jihadists – KT) and that Turkish foreign policy will harm the region and the Kurdish people.
Q: If the HDP crosses the 10% threshold, what will be its priorities in pursuing the peace process?
Mahmut Toğrul: If two different parties have a more balanced share of power, we can come closer to a solution. Kurds can get their rights and also contribute to a solution for other peoples in the state. We believe that all ethnic and religious groups are entitled to human rights and rights provided by democratic rules.
Specifically, we want the right to education in the mother tongue for all groups and the strengthening of local adminstrations and their decision-making powers. We will benefit from international experiences to establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission. We want to recover all the historical and cultural rights that have been denied. And we want to change the constitution and move from monism to pluralism.
Q: What about the risk that electoral fraud will prevent the HDP from crossing the 10% threshold?
Mahmut Toğrul: We will organise all our forces to protect the ballot. We have serious concerns about this. The government is very talented at using fraud. We are collaborating with and supporting other groups like Vote and Beyond which is mobilising 50,000 volunteers. Recently a pro-AKP newspaper made a statement describing Vote and Beyond as terrorist!
We have another advantage this time. In previous elections, all the other parties – AKP, CHP, MHP – could collaborate to manipulate Kurdish votes. This time the CHP and MHP know that, if they want to stop the AKP, the only way is for the HDP to enter the parliament.
Q: If you get elected to parliament, what will be your priorities?
Mahmut Toğrul: First, to take steps to provide internal peace. Second, to change the foreign policy of the country immediately so that it will not harm the region and the people. We will force the government to end a foreign policy of engaging in conflict with neighbours and providing support to the gangs in Syria. We will stop the provison of this help. We will put pressure on the government to establish full diplomatic and political relations with South Kurdistan and Rojava.
- With the HDP I Am Embracing My Past: Celal Doğan Interview
- ‘This is not an election for the parliament, but for Turkey’s future’
- 10% Then We’ll See – Campaigning For Tactical HDP Votes
Professor Dr. Mahmut Toğrul spoke to John Hunt.
Translation by Pinar Şenoğuz.
AFTERNOTE: Professor Dr. Mahmut Toğrul was elected to parliament on 7 June 2015.
Splendid piece explaining that HDP – like PYD in Rojava – is committed to pluralism, freedom of belief, and is for all the different ethnicities and religions of the people of Turkey, and committed to peace. The Professor omitted to mention gender equality which is a key HDP plank in their manifesto , again in tandem with the unique features of the PYD Charter for Rojava. And I particularly liked this candidate’s resolve that,if elected, his part will seek Turkeys ( and I assume the UN and the international community’s) recognition of Rojava. This is where I will be in this month, and the TURKISH election this Sunday will have huge significance not just for Turkey, but the region as a whole. We cannot have Erdogan winning and create a real dictatorship so as to continue his anti Kurd, anti peace and pro jihadists policies
To: US Congress
Please encourage fair and free elections in Kurdistan. No more corruption, dictatorship, war.