HDP blames Turkish gov’t for string of attacks on offices
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Fire brigades failed to extinguish burning offices of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) and the police have destroyed evidence, HDP claimed after a wave of attacks on its offices across the country Saturday night.
“Yesterday, 14 district offices, 5 city offices and our HQ were assaulted. Our buildings were completely destroyed or set aflame,” HDP tweeted Sunday.
In a press conference on Sunday, HDP’s party spokesperson Ayhan Bilgen, levelled several charges against Turkish authorities.
At their burning office in Kayseri, central Turkey, he said, the fire brigade did not put out the fire but instead removed a sign and hung a flag.
At their office in Istanbul’s Beylikdüzü district, the police spray painted over slogans written on the walls by those who had smashed and burnt the office.
“It is the government that is responsible for ensuring the safety of everyone,” said Bilgen. “The one who is accountable is the political party that is in power.”
Saturday’s attacks are the latest in a string of violent incidents targeting HDP offices.
On Thursday, an armed assailant fired shots at HDPs headquarters. He later surrendered to police. On Wednesday, mobs threw stones at HDP’s office in Adalar, Istanbul. On Tuesday, offices in Büyükçekme, Konya, and Mersin were attacked. On Monday, unknown persons set fire to the door of HDP’s Yalova office and others fired shots at the Balıkesir office.
“The government is manipulating public opinion against our party to whitewash its failure and troubles regarding internal and external politics,” HDP said in a statement condemning Thursday’s attack.
HDP said they are being attacked because of their continued objection to attempts to amend the constitution and bring in an executive presidency, which would place a lot of power into the hands of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
On Sunday, Bilgen said his party would be afraid and would continue to insist on pursuing democratic politics.
“Yesterday, 14 district offices, 5 city offices and our HQ were assaulted. Our buildings were completely destroyed or set aflame,” HDP tweeted Sunday.
In a press conference on Sunday, HDP’s party spokesperson Ayhan Bilgen, levelled several charges against Turkish authorities.
At their burning office in Kayseri, central Turkey, he said, the fire brigade did not put out the fire but instead removed a sign and hung a flag.
At their office in Istanbul’s Beylikdüzü district, the police spray painted over slogans written on the walls by those who had smashed and burnt the office.
“It is the government that is responsible for ensuring the safety of everyone,” said Bilgen. “The one who is accountable is the political party that is in power.”
Saturday’s attacks are the latest in a string of violent incidents targeting HDP offices.
On Thursday, an armed assailant fired shots at HDPs headquarters. He later surrendered to police. On Wednesday, mobs threw stones at HDP’s office in Adalar, Istanbul. On Tuesday, offices in Büyükçekme, Konya, and Mersin were attacked. On Monday, unknown persons set fire to the door of HDP’s Yalova office and others fired shots at the Balıkesir office.
“The government is manipulating public opinion against our party to whitewash its failure and troubles regarding internal and external politics,” HDP said in a statement condemning Thursday’s attack.
HDP said they are being attacked because of their continued objection to attempts to amend the constitution and bring in an executive presidency, which would place a lot of power into the hands of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
On Sunday, Bilgen said his party would be afraid and would continue to insist on pursuing democratic politics.