The Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) has made its final declaration on attempts to ban the party.
The party assembly of the HDP announced the outcomes of its meetings that were held in Ankara on 28-29 March.
“The Newroz celebrations that took place just after the lawsuit that seeks to permanently close the HDP showed that the people embraced their party and the HDP embraced their people in the most strong and decisive way,” said the HDP’s party assembly in their declaration.
The party assembly also stated that the majestic Newroz celebrations have become a major event where people have not only expressed their demands for democracy, for justice, for peace and for freedom, but also enthusiastically chanted their demand that the isolation of Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan must be ended.
“The Kurdish people in particular have given a serious response to the Turkish government with their historical stance in Newroz,” the HDP party assembly said.
The lawsuit against HDP ‘not about laws, but politics’
Regarding the legal attempts to permanently close the HDP, the party assembly said, “This lawsuit is a continuation of the government’s hostility towards Kurds and policies of appointing trustees in the place of those who are elected, and this whole trial process is not about laws, but politics.”
The lawsuit that seeks to ban the HDP, according to the party assembly, is an “attack on the joint struggle which is at the heart of the HDP.”
The party assembly added: “The lawsuit to close the HDP is a heavy attack on all those who demand equality and justice, on the longing for a democratic republic, on the understanding of a collective life.”
Call on international democratic forces
In the final declaration, the HDP gave a message of resistance and underlined that “the HDP will continue its path unwaveringly.”
The HDP called on all international democratic forces to take a clear stance against the attack on the HDP.
“We call on all democratic forces around the world as well. This invitation of ours is addressed to everyone who defends peace, justice, equality and freedom. The HDP will continue on its path. We will continue the struggle of the HDP and we will keep the party alive even if they ban us,” concluded the party assembly.
