HDP co-chair Sezai Temelli was in Bitlis on Saturday where he met the people as part of the HDP electoral campaign. 

Temelli said “Bitlis is a cultural city. Throughout history, many beliefs, many cultures have lived together. This is a center that has made important contributions to the Islamic religion. But seems that today's political power has damaged our cities”.

Temelli added: “Living, coexisting with many different cultures and traditions, means getting strength and richness from the diversity. The people of this country who have lived together for thousands of years can not be hostile to each other. Where does this hostility policy come from? This comes from a power that in order to keep itself in that position spread hate among people. It's time to end this”.

The HDP co-chair recalled the 2014 presidential elections, when Selahattin Demirtaş, then like today running for president, was explaining to people how “a new life is possible. New life means new politics. It's time to end this old politics. Let us come together with all our differences and build a new life". 

Temelli then recalled the resistance of Kobanê, in Rojava. “One of the most important events of our recent past - he said - is Kobanê. Everyone stood up against ISIS. There was a call to open the border gate and let humanitarian aid through to the people of Kobanê. People were dying there. HDP, which did not say anything other than peace, took the initiative that day. We said ‘Kobanê cannot fall. Should Kobanê fall all Turkey will be in danger’. We made calls to the whole world. At that time, President Erdogan said, ‘Kobanê has fallen or will fall’. Our peoples reacted in a democratic way”.