Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) PM member Ayfer Demirel spoke to Jin News regarding the indictment prepared for the closure of the HDP. ”This is an indication that the women’s struggle is being targeted,” she said.
The indictment prepared by the Office of the Chief Public Prosecutor for the closure of the HDP was sent to the Constitutional Court (AYM) but was rejected on 30 April, due to procedural deficiencies. The AYM transferred the indictment to the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office for correction. The indictment demanded a political ban of nearly 700 people, most of them women.
Ayfer Demirel stated that the insistence of the party’s attitude on the third way in the local elections angered the government, adding that the indictment included the press statements of women.
Unity on the ‘third way’
Demirel said, ”With the lawsuits filed against our party, the freedom of expression of 82 million people was infringed. We saw the HDP’s efforts in the local elections. We have shown our strength against the unlawful approaches of the government in the big cities. This is what we call the third way. The third way should be the only voice against the government.” Ayfer added that, contrary to the HDP’s approach, ”the government carried out the coup by appointing trustees, removing the status of deputies and the withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention”.
Arguing that they want to close the HDP because of its increasing power as the only opposition, Demirel recalled the participation in Newroz on 8 March, which influenced government to step back. ”HDP is my will, it is the party that unites by fighting against power,” she said. “This doesn’t mean the attacks are over. They are waiting to try different methods.”
‘Women will never give up on the Istanbul Convention’
Demirel pointed out that this is an indication that the women’s struggle is being targeted. Referring to the Istanbul Convention, which has been withdrawn by Presidential decree, Demirel said, ”Women will never give up on the Istanbul Convention. It is a fact that more women will be killed, more women will be locked up in homes, subjected to violence and harassment. That is why femicide is political. Especially when we look at the indictments of women. The press statements where we said ‘women should not be murdered’ were included. All our political work is included in the indictment by trying to terrorise it.”
‘Political ban cannot prevent us from fighting’
The party is defending human rights and freedom in Turkey and it cannot be destroyed, said Demirel, adding, “I will continue my struggle even if the political ban comes into effect. We have been fighting for women’s rights and freedoms for years. We are already fighting together with women’s platforms and organisations. Since increasing our struggle, closure cases have opened. This is the main reason why 400 women were sued,” she concluded.
