Amed resistance on day 7: HDP members gather again

The resistance in Amed against the seizure of HDP’s municipalities continues on day 7. HDP members gathered on the Lise Avenue again.

HDP (Peoples' Democratic Party) has been protesting the usurpation of municipalities in Amed since August 19.

On day 7, the crowd gathered on the Lise avenue included HDP MPs Dersim Dag, Saliha Aydeniz, Ayse Acar Basaran, Semra Guzel, Hisyar Ozsoy, Garo Paylan, Musa Farisogullari, Imam Tasci and Nimetullah Erdogmus.

TJA activists, DBP members, city council members and Halkevleri co-chair Nuri Gunay were also present. Usurped Amed metropolitan municipality’s Co-mayor Selcuk Mizrakli arrived soon after, and was greeted with chants from the crowd.

HDP has been protesting since August 19 when three municipalities were confiscated. Garo Paylan spoke in Saturday’s press statement and said, “Erdogan and Bahceli are following the path of Talat Pasha, who was responsible for the Armenian Genocide, which was what tore down the Ottoman empire and put Anatolia through a calamity. They continue down the same path.”

Paylan said: “When the Istanbul elections were cancelled, we didn’t stand with CHP and Imamoglu because we love them so much, we as the HDP stood with them for democracy. If Turkey and the world won’t speak up against the trustees, Erdogan will continue to commit crimes. All politicians are in danger. We stand strong in Amed, and we will send the trustee away. Everybody must speak up against the trustees.”

Police blockade around the municipality also continues. HDP’s Amed, Mardin and Van municipalities had been confiscated by regime forces on August 19, and trustees were appointed in the place of co-mayors. In parallel, over 400 people were detained in house raids.