The Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) held a rally in Bağcılar Kirazlı Metro Square where it also opened an election office.

HDP co-chair Pervin Buldan, HDP Bağcılar Municipality co-mayor candidates Hüda Kaya and Medeni Andok attended the meeting.

The rally started with a minute silence in memory of Zülküf Gezen, who put an end to his life in Tekirdağ No 2 Prison to protest the isolation of Kurdish People's Leader Abdullah Öcalan.

The citizens who participated in the rally often shouted slogans and many activists carried photos of HDP Hakkari MP Leyla Güven and the other hunger strikers.

Kaya: They are afraid of the dead

Speaking at the rally, HDP Bağcılar co-mayoral candidate Hüda Kaya underlined the sacrifice of Zülküf Gezen and said: “We are among the people. You fill the squares unlike those transported to (AKP) rallies. We are with the people and we are the people. I'd like to say this about burial ceremonies: you're afraid of our dead. Those who cannot sleep comfortably in the palaces are afraid of a cemetery. They are afraid of  our struggle for humanity.”

HDP Istanbul Provincial co-chair Esengül Demir spoke about the hunger strikes and said: “They abducted the dead body of our friend and this we won’t forget. We will take to the streets in order to avoid losing other friends like Zülküf. Let's be the voice of the resistance.”

HDP co-chair Pervin Buldan said: “This enthusiasm and morale is an indication that we will win on 31 March. There is the same enthusiasm in Istanbul. So we are going to win in Istanbul and Bağcılar. Change is in the air. Wherever we go, people are showing us the change. They once again showed us that the AKP government's pillage and its 17 years of lies are over. We have to make a decision on 31 March, and our decision will bring peace, justice and law to Turkey.”

After Buldan's speech, the election office was opened.