Tülay Hatimoğulları, co-chair of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party, unveiled a nationwide campaign at a public meeting in Ağrı (Agirî) on Thursday aimed at achieving peace and justice in Turkey through grassroots mobilisation.
Hatimoğulları addressed a crowd in the Kurdish-majority eastern province of Ağrı as part of the “Bread and Justice” campaign, condemning recent police operations targeting Kurdish cultural expressions. “We have seen these stories many times in the 1990s. The government is targeting Kurdish weddings and traditional attire, pushing the country back to those dark days,” she said.
The 1990s in Turkey were marked by severe state-led oppression, against Kurdish communities, a period often characterised by widespread human rights abuses and political repression, sometimes termed as “Dirty War”. During this decade, the Turkish government intensified its military and security operations in predominantly Kurdish regions, leading to numerous instances of violence and violations of civil liberties.
Highlighting the resilience of the Kurdish people, she stated, “The Kurdish people in Turkey, Iraq, Syria and Iran have strengthened their resolve and solidarity in the face of oppression. Our message from Doğubayazıt to the whole of Turkey, especially to the government, is clear: we will not be intimidated by arrests, imprisonments, or torture.”
Hatimoğulları criticised the government’s economic policies, particularly the handling of poverty, unemployment, and inflation. “A 2,500 TL increase for retirees is not enough. The government’s ostentatious presentation of this raise shows how out of touch they are with the struggles of ordinary people,” she stated.
The “Bread and Justice” campaign aims to engage with oppressed and marginalised groups across Turkey and Kurdish regions. Hatimoğulları announced plans to visit various regions, including Çukurova, the Aegean, Marmara and Kurdish regions, all of which are significant for agriculture in southern. “We will meet with farmers, workers, women, youth and all oppressed and exploited people. Our campaign will continue through the summer, overcoming any obstacles,” she announced.
She also condemned the government’s use of secret funds and austerity measures that disproportionately affect municipalities not controlled by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). “This government uses secret funds for dark purposes while imposing austerity on the people. They limit resources for opposition municipalities to hinder their ability to serve the public,” she asserted.
Hatimoğulları advocated for agricultural support to revive local farming and reduce dependency on imports. “Revitalising agriculture is crucial for fighting poverty in Turkey and Kurdistan. We must support local farmers to ensure self-sufficiency,” she emphasised.
The DEM Party proposes establishing a fully equipped hospital in Ağrı and ensuring that basic needs such as education and healthcare are provided publicly and free of charge. “We demand a fully equipped hospital in Ağrı and the provision of free education and healthcare as public services. Tax justice is essential, and the burden should be fairly distributed,” she argued.
Expressing solidarity with party members facing government oppression, Hatimoğulları condemned the attacks on activists and DEM Party members. “We stand with our members who have been targeted for their activism. We must raise the voices of peace and justice and strive for democratic solutions to our problems,” she concluded.
