HDP stages sit-in in front of parliament to protest Turkish government's crackdown

Duvar English

The Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) carried out a sit-in in front of parliament to protest the government's crackdown on the party on Oct. 1.

The lawmakers didn't attend the opening session of parliament, during which President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan gave a speech.

Earlier HDP co-chairs Pervin Buldan and Mithat Sancar made a press statement in parliament's garden, saying that the government's aim is politics and Turkey without the HDP.

She also said that the HDP's rise can't be stopped and that the party will continue to push for politics on a democratic basis.

Sancar made similar comments, saying, "We are standing as the HDP, we are determined and right."

Turkey continues crackdown on HDP, detains co-mayor, party members in Kars

He also stressed that the party will never abandon the basis of democratic politics and that they don't give up on the democracy alliance.

Explaining why the party didn't attend the opening session, Sancar noted that it's not a stance against parliament.

"This is not a stance against parliament, but we found it more appropriate to announce such injustice, unlawfulness and oppression from parliament's garden," Sancar said.

Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) deputies Levent Gök, Sezgin Tanrıkulu and Utku Çakırözer visited the sit-in to show solidarity.

The HDP's protest came after Turkish police detained over 40 HDP members, including Kars co-mayors Ayhan Bilgen and Şevin Karaca, in the past week.

Kars Mayor Ayhan Bilgen announces resignation from post while under detention

Erdoğan, meanwhile, commented on the HDP's protest, saying, "Their existence is the same as their nonexistence."

"They belong in the streets," Erdoğan added.