After the Northern Kurdistan metropolis of Amed (Diyarbakır) was placed under Turkish trustee, the new city administration appointed by the AKP regime covered all the busy streets with flags of the AKP and Turkey as well as pictures of the regime chief Erdoğan. The provincial co-chair of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Serif Çamçı describes this action by the AKP as an occupying mentality.

On the occasion of the visit of the head of the regime in April last year, pictures of Erdoğan and flags were hung on every street lamp on all busy streets at a distance of five meters. The flags and pictures still remain hung to this day and were now also supplemented by AKP flags and posters, which were hung on the occasion of the AKP Congress in Amed.

"Occupation of public space part of the psychological warfare"

The massive presence of AKP propaganda, especially in Kurdish regions, aims to create a sense of occupation, says Kurdish politician Serif Çamçi. He emphasizes that the propaganda does not reflect the views of the population. The DBP represents Amed's co-mayors, elected by a large majority and deposed by the regime. Çamçi points out that this occupation of public space by AKP propaganda is part of the psychological warfare: "While the flags of a party that has received only 20 percent in the elections, are hung in all the streets of the city, it is the HDP that got 80 percent of the vote, and is banned from hanging flags or performing any other activity."

"This practice makes the population angry"

Çamçı describes this practice as an attempt by the AKP regime to obfuscate and legitimize its own illegal practice: "They try to give the impression that people have hung up these flags of their own accord and appropriated their contents. This has nothing to do with reality. The people of Diyarbakır are familiar with the policies of the AKP government. Such action makes the population angry. "

"The true views of the population were evident at Newroz"

Çamçı stated that the regime is also using a similar practice in many of Amed's districts. For example, state employees have forced shopkeepers to hang flags. "This is an approach that is not reciprocated by the people and is carried out against the people. It is a practice of fascism against the people. If you want to see the true views of the population, then you have to look at the Newroz grounds."