HDP leader supported PKK 49 more Kurdish MPs arrested

[Anthea]

HDP leader explains why she refuses to answer summons on terrorism charges

Co-chair of the People’s Democratic Party (HDP), Figen Yüksekdağ, said that she will refuse to answer any summons to court to face charges of supporting terrorism because there is no fair or impartial judicial mechanism in Turkey.

“The government had already amassed their cohorts in judiciary posts and a purge of the high judiciary was concluded well before the July 15 coup attempt. After that, thousands of judges and prosecutors have been discharged and arrested,” Yüksekdağ wrote in an editorial for Newsweek on Thursday.

“Public confidence in the judiciary is at an all-time low. In this situation, there is no judicial mechanism that we can go to seek justice,” she wrote, noting that “every member of the high judiciary has pledged their loyalty to Erdoğan,” president of Turkey.

“Therefore, we are doing what is legitimate and right: we refuse to go to the prosecutors and the courts.”

Yüksekdağ and 58 other HDP MPs, including her co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş, face charges on supporting terrorism tied to accusations from Ankara that they support the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD).

The charges against Yüksekdağ stem from a speech she made in 2015 in which she expressed support for the US-backed Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) and the PYD and their fight against the terrorist group Islamic State (ISIS).

She concluded her speech by saying, “Let’s join together with Syrian Kurds in a historical alliance and make Turkey a safe, secure, strong and the democratic center of gravity in the region.”

The Turkish parliament voted in May to lift immunity from a select group of lawmakers, including many HDP MPs, accused of terrorism-related offenses.

http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/turkey/15092016

[Anthea]

Yüksekdağ and 58 other HDP MPs, including her co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş, face charges on supporting terrorism tied to accusations from Ankara that they support the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD).

Figen Yüksekdağ and Selahattin Demirtaş have let Kurds down badly and put fellow HDP MP's freedom/lives at risk

Some of the HDP MP's actually thought they belonged to a legitimate independent Kurdish party - not all of them support the PKK - some of those who voted for them also thought the HDP legitimate independent Kurdish party - not spokespeople for the PKK

It is a disgrace that Figen Yüksekdağ does not have the courage of her convictions - neither Figen Yüksekdağ nor Selahattin Demirtaş can deny they support the PKK

They supported the PKK openly on many occasions - often in front of hundreds of thousands of people - now they have to stand up - take responsibility for their actions and face the consequences

[Anthea]

Turkey’s HDP head in Kurdistan on mission to promote Kurdish unity

The People’s Democratic Party (HDP) delegation, headed by its co-chair Selahattin Demirtas, arrived in Erbil on Wednesday for meetings with Kurdistan Region leaders.

Upon arrival, Demirtas said in televised comments, “First of all I am very pleased that in Kurdistan and on behalf of my colleagues’ thanks for the friendly welcome.”

And he explained the purpose of the visit is to bring all Kurdish parties from the different parts of Kurdistan to an agreement in order to face existing threats and challenges.

“All Kurdistan land and the Kurdish people are going through a sensitive and historic time, when in many areas there are tensions,” Demirtas said.

“Unfortunately, all four parts of Kurdistan are under a big threat, therefore all the four parts should have an agreement, and we want such an agreement in the interest of the Kurdish people.”

He added that we “will continue our efforts for this goal.”

The HDP delegation will meet with Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani, Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani and officials of the main Kurdistan political parties, including the Islamic groups.

In Turkey last August, President Barzani had invited the HDP for a visit.

The HDP delegation includes Demirtas, Fatma Kurtulan, Nadir Yildirim, Osman Baydemir, Basima Kogan, Imam Tascier and Jalal Dogan, according to HDP media sources.

The HDP delegation is due to spend four days in the Kurdistan Region. It is expected to also hold meetings with representatives of civil society organizations.

http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/turkey/210920162

If I were Barzani I would throw the little worm out

Selahattin is on a power trip - he gained a little power and though he was God - a clear cut case of megalomania if ever there was one

Now this pathetic idiot is trying to save himself and doing his best to try and stay out of prison - he does not care in the slightest about all the harm he has caused the HDP law givers and those foolish enough to vote for the HDP

[Piling]

Demirtas asked to Barzani to act as a "Big Brother" in the Peace process. I wonder what do think about that PKK supporters who hate Barzani more than Erdogan.

And I wonder how will react Öcalan who hates that someone else takes the first role in a part.

[Anthea]

Demirtas asked to Barzani to act as a "Big Brother" in the Peace process. I wonder what do think about that PKK supporters who hate Barzani more than Erdogan.

And I wonder how will react Öcalan who hates that someone else takes the first role in a part.

I wonder how Erdogan will react because he is the one who controls Öcalan

[Anthea]

Second day of raids puts 49 Kurdish politicians behind bars in Turkey

Nearly 50 members of Turkey‘s opposition Kurdish Peoples‘ Democratic Party (HDP) were taken into custody Wednesday in the second round of police raids against the party in two days, according to a party official.

The 49 politicians - most of them provincial or municipal officials - were picked up in raids in the provinces of Van and Hakkari, according to Merdan Berk, a spokesman for the DBP, a regional party affiliated with HDP.

Police had arrested 32 HDP members on Tuesday. They are all accused of membership in the Kurdistan Workers‘ Party (PKK), an organization considered a terrorist group by Turkey and with which Turkey has been in conflict for most of the last few decades.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has, in the past, referred to the HDP as an extension of the PKK. HDP members insist there are no ties between the two.

The PKK has been fighting for decades to lift Turkish control of Kurdish regions. The more mainstream HDP says it seeks simply to promote Kurdish rights within Turkey.

Although there had been some efforts to improve Turkish-Kurd ties in recent years, even leading to a brief PKK-Turkish ceasefire, relations have deteriorated in the last year, with a return to open warfare.

In September, Turkey put numerous DBP-run governments under federal administration, removing local officials from office.

http://en.europeonline-magazine.eu/seco ... 89159.html