The HDP held a rally in Kars as part of its electoral campaign for the 31 March local elections.

Hundreds of children, women, old and young people joined the rally in front of the HDP Kars Provincial Building.

HDP co-chair, Sezai Temelli, was welcomed by a convoy of dozens of vehicles. He was met by Kars co-mayoral candidates Ayhan Bilgen and Şevin Alaca.

Addressing the crowd, Temelli said: “Kars is the peoples’ garden, the cultural cradle of Turks, Kurds, Armenians, Georgians the Azerbaijanis. The will to be together is written throughout the history of Kars and has been an example to the whole world. This is a city which set an example for Turkey.”

Let's give voice to Leyla Güven

Reminding that HDP Hakkari MP Leyla Güven has been on hunger strike for 114 days, as well as more than 330 prisoners, Temelli said: “Let’s give voice to Leyla Güven and to our friends in Strasbourg, Selma Irmak, Sebahat Tuncel in Kandıra prison, Nasır Yağız in Hewlêr. They add strength to this justice and democracy struggle putting their bodies in it, they raise their voices and demand justice and law.”

Temelli added: “The isolation of Mr Öcalan has been the beginning of all illegal practices for the last 4 years. It is not possible to take a new step on law and human rights in the country without ending these conditions of absolute isolation. What do we want? What do our friends who are on hunger strike want? They want this government to comply with the law. They want Mr. Öcalan to benefit from the same rights the other prisoners benefit from, regular visits with his family and lawyers. These demands are legitimate, those who fail to fulfill these demands are those who have lost their legitimacy.”

Temelli called “on the Minister of Justice once again to do what is required by the law and end this absolute isolation. We don't want to lose anybody, we don't want to lose our friends. For this reason, justice must be granted as soon as possible. My dear friends, human rights, law and justice cannot be turned into material of politics.”

Temelli added: “The Minister of Justice said yesterday that ‘We grew up with Kurdish lullabies’. Good, good. But you're the Minister of Justice, and your being Kurd shouldn’t only come up during election time. We know well that as soon as elections are over, your Kurdishness will go!”

Temelli then presented the HDP co-mayor candidates for Kars municipality, Ayhan Bilgen and Şevin Alacak.

“We will save this country from this AKP-MHP block. - said Temelli ending his remarks - Because this mentality is a fascist mindset. We can only put an end to it, and we will. On 31 March we will defend our future by going to the polls. We will sweep these fascists into the dustbin of history.

1 April will be the beginning of hope and we will achieve it all together. Now it is time to leave all the resentment and work shoulder to shoulder.”