Turkish police raided the office of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Cizre District Organization during the morning hours today.

Special operations policemen broke the doors of the office during the raid. The police also carried out house raids in Cudi, Dağkapı, Nur Neighbourhoods, Dirsekli village and Dirsekli Residences simultaneously.

HDP district Co-Chair Mesut Nart, HDP district administrator and the mother of Yasemin Çıkmaz, who was murdered in one of the “death basements” in Cizre, Esmer Çıkmaz, Osman Küçük, Maruf Eliş, Şerif Elçioğlu, Hacı Dalmış, Ahmet Benzer, Zeliha Yardak and Ali Öğün were detained during the raids.

HDP members reacted to the detention of 9 HDP administrators in a press statement in the afternoon.

Numerous people, including MPs Nuran İmir, Hasan Özgüneş, HDP provincial and district administrators, Peace Mothers, Free Women’s Movement (Tevgera Jinên Azad, TJA) activists, and HDP Silopi Co-Mayors attended the press briefing.

WE WILL NOT TAKE A STEP BACK

“Our district office was illegally vandalized during the police raids. Today’s raids signify an intolerance against 8 March and Newroz. However, the people of Botan and the Kurdish people will not submit to these dirty policies. We will not take a step back from our struggle for freedom no matter the price,” HDP Provincial Co-Chair Abdullah Güngen said.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE YOUR NIGHTMARE

HDP Şırnak Deputy Nuran İmir stressed that every attack makes them even stronger.

“The police raid on our district office is the outcome of hatred towards the Kurds. None of your policies and oppression can stop us. Here I am asking the President: Our district office was damaged during the raids. Who are these people? Are they law enforcement officers or ISIS members? Our struggle will continue until the AKP government remains a defeated party in Botan. We will continue to be your nightmare,” İmir said.

THIS STRUGGLE WILL CONTINUE TO THE END

Speaking after, HDP Şırnak Deputy Hasan Özgüneş said; “You do not have to do things that do not comply with the laws, morality and humanity. We are asking the governor, the police and the prosecutor: What kind of morality is this? This is simply what terrorism is. Policemen entered the office without complying with the laws and moral standards. Explain what is happening in Cizre and Şırnak. Why are you bothered? The enthusiasm displayed during the latest Newroz and March 8 celebrations might have disturbed some people. However, this struggle will continue until the end.”

After the speeches, a sit-in protest was staged during which slogans such as "Repression cannot intimidate us," and "HDP is the people, the people are here" were frequently chanted.

From today on, a three-day sit-in will be staged inside the HDP Cizre district organization office, which will take place after iftar.