HDP faces violent attacks in Turkish local election campaign

Sebahat Tuncel, HDP co-chair

Sebahat Tuncel, HDP co-chair

KT Report:

The People’s Democracy Party (HDP) has experienced a series of violent attacks by Turkish ultra-nationalists during the local election campaign, most recently in the resort town of Fethiye, where mobs have attacked a HDP election office and local Kurdish businesses, and yesterday in Tekirdağ, where a campaign bus was stoned, injuring a HDP mayoral candidate.

The HDP is running a parallel campaign with the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), on a platform that includes supporting the peace process and promoting peaceful coexistence of Kurds and Turks. At a press conference on Tuesday, HDP co-chairs  Ertuğrul Kürkçü and Sebahat Tuncel called on the government to act to “restore security” in the election campaign.

“We call on the government to restore security and initiate action to remove obstacles that prevent our party exercising its rights”, said Kürkçü, who claimed there have been 20 organised attacks on the HDP during the campaign.

“The HDP feels no ill will for citizens who do not think like our party”, said Kürkçü. “It does not intervene in the beliefs of others. The attacks have not made such a justification. They have decided on direct assaults to prevent the HDP carrying out activities. They carried out this attack on the day our party was to open an office, giving the names of our colleagues as targets and running a campaign on social media. This was not a spontaneous attack. Behind every attack there is someone in authority.”

Sebahat Tuncel said the HDP was seen as a political threat, adding: “Those who are unhappy have organised these attacks, which are being planned centrally.”

“We do not want protection, we want an explanation”, she said, referring to the Interior Ministry. “We have been told not to worry and that nothing will happen. Then we have suffered these attacks. Our people will protect themselves. We will not flee from the fight.”

“Our answer to those who wish to provoke us will be given at the ballot box,” said Tuncel. “We want to make a new start with the Turks and the Kurds. We will continue on this path. The authorities need to take measures. On 30th March we will sing victory songs together. The people will make the necessary response on 30th March.”

Sources: ANF, Reuters

One Response to HDP faces violent attacks in Turkish local election campaign
  1. […] 3. HDP faces violent attacks in Turkish local election campaign 12 March 2014 / Kurdistan Tribune The People’s Democracy Party (HDP) has experienced a series of violent attacks by Turkish ultra-nationalists during the local election campaign, most recently in the resort town of Fethiye, where mobs have attacked a HDP election office and local Kurdish businesses, and yesterday in Tekirdağ, where a campaign bus was stoned, injuring a HDP mayoral candidate. The HDP is running a parallel campaign with the pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), on a platform that includes supporting the peace process and promoting peaceful coexistence of Kurds and Turks. At a press conference on Tuesday, HDP co-chairs  Ertuğrul Kürkçü and Sebahat Tuncel called on the government to act to “restore security” in the election campaign. […]

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