The Turkish government’s attempts to institutionalise a fascist regime through control over metropolitan municipalities were thwarted by the electoral victories of the opposition, particularly the Kurdish opposition, said Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) executive Mustafa Karasu in an interview published on Saturday.
Karasu contrasted the atmosphere of negativity and pessimism following Turkey’s May 2023 parliamentary elections with the ‘revolutionary momentum’ gained by the Kurdish freedom movement in the March 2024 local elections. He condemned the Turkish government’s efforts to suppress Kurdish political expression, notably in Van (Wan), where he stated, “the political will of our people… was attempted to be usurped.”
Karasu argued that these attempts showcase the government’s anti-Kurdish mentality and emphasised the need for Kurdish resistance. “The Kurdish people must not accept this attitude… in any way,” he insisted. The elections, according to Karasu, were a testament to the Kurdish people’s refusal to bow to deception, oppression, and intimidation, illustrating a significant step towards their long-standing struggle for democracy and self-determination.
He further highlighted the essential role of women in this movement, noting, “Women also made their mark on this election”. Karasu detailed how Kurdistan Workers’ Party’s (PKK) imprisoned leader Abdullah Öcalan’s paradigm of women’s freedom has revolutionised Kurdish society, bringing about a significant shift towards gender equality and co-leadership. This change, he noted, has not only challenged traditional norms but has been critical to the movement’s progress.
Reflecting on the broader implications of these developments, Karasu criticised the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) coalition’s attempts to institutionalise a fascist regime through control over metropolitan municipalities, a plan thwarted by the electoral victories. He pointed out the deep-seated crises facing Turkey, exacerbated by the government’s policies, particularly its war against the Kurds, which Karasu defines as genocidal.
