HDP co-chair Sezai Temelli was in Bayraklı district of Izmir within the scope of the party's election campaign.

Temelli addressed the crowd saying: “Every day they attack the HDP, with hate speech, hostility, marginalization. Why? To get three to five votes! But to divide the society is to divide the country. For years, rising racism has brought the whole world into oppression and suffering, and we must oppose all of these discourses.”

Temelli spoke about Friday’s attack in New Zealand and said: “This is why we have to stop racism in Turkey. What happened in New Zealand is a major crime against humanity.We see this oppression against the people living in these lands. We see a power feeding itself with hostility against Kurds and Alevi hostility.”

Isolation and hunger strikes

HDP Temelli reminded that Leyla Güven is leading the struggle to break isolation and is now on her 129th day of hunger strike and her health is deteriorating quickly. “This deterioration - said Temelli - can result in irreparable consequences. That's why we cannot be late. We have to fulfill our responsibility. We must do our part and become Leyla Güven’s voice everywhere.”

Temelli pointed out that Güven and the other hunger strikers are fasting for justice, peace and democracy.

Temelli underlined that it is Turkey and not only Mr Öcalan to be under isolation.

“Since 2015 [when the government abruptly interrupted talks with Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan] isolation increased not just in Imrali but in the whole country. This has meant an increase in lawlessness and this lawlessness involved everything. Yes, when we look back on it today, we see that lawlessness has become the norm. This lawlessness has become so ordinary that it is no longer possible to speak of justice, judicial independence. Today, it is not possible to talk about justice in any living space. It is not possible to talk about justice in prisons. We are in such difficult conditions. In spite of this we will continue our struggle.”

Temelli added: “Four years ago we had said that isolation will only bring injustice to this country. As a matter of fact, it did. Therefore, I call once again to the Minister of Justice to put an end to isolation. We don't want any of our friends to lose their lives.

In Van Prison, Şahin Öncü is now facing the risk of death. We don't want to lose any of our friends. Therefore, the authorities should take action as soon as possible, by actually complying with their own laws.

This is not an issue for an electoral campaign. This is an issue of justice, law and peace.

This is a legitimate demand, a justified demand. The Ministry of Justice should implement the law as soon as possible.”

Economic crisis

Touching upon the economic crisis, Temelli said that this “is getting deeper. Today, all the attempts to cover up the economic crisis show that the country is on the verge of collapsing, economically.

This country has an unemployment problem and a poverty problem.”

Erdoğan will take the retirement path on 31 March

Temelli said: “On 31 March we are going to send Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on the way of retirement! We will save this country from this mentality which is only damaging the country.”

Reminding that elections are only 14 days away, Temelli said: “We will protect our will and our future together. We won’t allow our will to be usurped. Wherever you are, use your vote wisely. Let’s tell the AKP-MHP alliance: Time to go!”