The HDP pointed out that the AKP-MHP government is trying to use the refugees as an element of blackmail, and said: "Hostility to refugees is increased through the jihadist groups that have been sent to the streets."
In a written statement made, Gülsüm Ağaoğlu and Veli Saçılık, co-spokespersons of the HDP Migration and Refugee Commission, said: "Recently, demonstrations have been held in many cities, especially in Istanbul and Antep, in parallel with the policies of the government, what the government calls 'anti-Islamophobia actions'. These guided demonstrations aiming to send a message to France and other European states through the 'refugees card'.
The statement underlined that "while no parties, unions and democratic mass organizations are even allowed to go out on the streets or make a press statement, which is the most basic right of freedom of expression, the fact that radical Salafist elements can act freely shows the government's open relationship with these groups and the support it gives to these groups.”
The statement added: “It would be a repetition of the obvious to say that the power that encourages the actions is the state. The world is intimidated by the threat that these groups are released to the streets and these groups are used to blackmail the European states saying that if the borders are opened, the radical elements in question will reach the European states. We will never accept the spread of hate speech against Syrian refugees across the society through Salafist groups. "
The HDP continued: "We invite all civil and political segments to take a stand against the hostility shown against the refugees. It would be the best approach to consider refugees not as Syrians, Afghanistan, etc., but as human beings; it is dangerous to raise refugee hostility through jihadist groups guided from a single center."
