"Cansu Özdemir is our candidate"

A new state parliament will be elected in Hamburg on 23 February. Cansu Özdemir is the lead candidate of the left-wing parliamentary group. Kurdish institutions support her in the election campaign.

The elections for the Hamburg Parliament will take place on 23 February 2020. In 2011, Cansu Özdemir moved to the state parliament for the first time as a deputy and has been co-chair of the parliamentary group DIE LINKE since 2015. Prior to her party-political career, the native of Hamburg was spokeswoman of the Kurdish Women's Council Rojbîn, which is based in the premises of the Democratic Community Society Centre on Steindamm. There the thirty-year-old top candidate of the Hamburg Left Party yesterday met with representatives of institutions from the Kurdish democratic spectrum, who assured her of their support in the election campaign.

Tahir Köçer, chairman of the nationwide Kurdish umbrella organisation KON-MED, called on all voters to vote: "We should all make sure that Cansu Özdemir is successful. Whether in parliament or on the streets - she has always represented the voice of our people and their voters. We may be a minority here, but we have the strength to influence majority politics. We should not underestimate our strength."

The Federation of Immigrant Workers in Germany (AGIF) and the Communist Party of Kurdistan (KKP) also declared their support for Cansu Özdemir. Speaking for the KKP, Serhat Çetinkaya said: "Germany is at the forefront of the countries that support the dirty policies conducted against the Kurdish people. The party DIE LINKE has always stood up for the justified demands of our people. In order for the Kurdish question to be discussed on the international arena we need politicians like Cansu Özdemir. She is the voice of our conscience in the parliament."

Kurdish film maker Heja Türk pointed out at the meeting that Cansu Özdemir, in addition to her political work, has also supported the arts and culture: "We would like her to do something for the promotion of the Kurdish language if she wins the elections. Furthermore, it would be nice if there were a native-speaking day care center in Hamburg as well as in Berlin."

Director Önder Çakar from the artists' initiative AVAKINO said: "I don't have the right to vote, but I know how successful Cansu’s political work is. She is a part of us. We will support her election campaign."

Most recently, Melle Ferman as Imam of the Kurdish mosque Şêx Said also explained that his community is behind Cansu Özdemir.