The HDP (Peoples' Democratic Party) has responded to Turkish Prime Minister Davutoğlu's comment that: "Demirtaş will be responsible for all blood shed on the street” which came after HDP Co-President's remarks that they would oppose the "Internal Security Package” both in Parliament and on the streets if enacted.

The HDP replied to Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu's comment with a written statement, in which it condemned the targeting of its Co-President and called on all party members, friends and organisations to support Selahattin Demirtaş.

The HDP warned the Prime Minister: “This is a highly irresponsible comment. We invite the PM to be sensible", emphasising  that: "If the law is enacted we will wage a democratic struggle to change it.”

'We agree absolutely with our Co-President’

The HDP statement continued: "We agree absolutely with our Co-President. We believe this draft law has the potential to dynamite the process of negotiation. Even before the enactment of this law the police in Yüksekova have executed an 18-year-old. The peoples of Turkey have not forgotten how 8 young people were killed during the Gezi incidents and how violence was used.”

The statement stressed that when saying this the HDP was not approving the use of Molotov cocktails, looting or the use of violence on demonstrations.

“Public order is important, but it is not secured by means of truncheons, gas and repression, but through democracy and the development of freedoms. People do not go out onto the streets to protest for nothing, they do it to oppose repression and injustice. To ban people from raising their voices instead of listening and understanding will be counterproductive.”

'Let the government explain the deaths of 6-8 October’

The HDP statement called on the Prime Minister to account for the deaths at demonstrations rather than accusing the HDP, demanding an explanation as to why the government had rejected the HDP’s request for a parliamentary commission to be set up to investigate the deaths.

The HDP emphasised that the right to protest was enshrined in the constitution and was a universal right, adding: "The PM is admitting with these statements that he will use violence against those exercising their democratic right and that he is preparing to hold the HDP responsible.” The HDP called on the government, saying: "If you are sincere about the process of resolution, take steps for democratisation, introduce legal provisions and initiate negotiations. Anything apart from that will be viewed as a delaying tactic and not be accepted.”