The Human Rights Association (IHD) steps in the controversy involving Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu and its direct threats to HDP (Peoples' Democratic Party) and CHP (Republican People's Party).

The IHD stated that “Minister Soylu thinks that he can threaten everyone to make clear who is the Minister of the Interior and the strength he has thanks to the Ministry.”

The Human Rights Association added: “We believe that in fact we are confronted with a government policy carried out by Minister Soylu” and pointed out that indeed Soylu’s attitude has not been criticised either by the AKP or by the government.

The IHD ended its statement as follows:

* As advocates of human rights, we will defend human rights and freedoms, including our own rights, under all circumstances.

* As IHD, we advocate universality, indivisibility, integrity of human rights.

* In view of the fact that the issue of human rights and freedoms is not an internal matter of any country, we draw attention to the speech and practice by the Interior Minister threatening human rights."

What Minister Soylu said

HDP (Peoples’ Democratic Party) co-chair, Pervin Buldan denounced on Wednesday that Turkish Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu hd threatened her.

The Minister holds the HDP responsible for the alleged execution of a ballot officer in Yanyurt village in Ağrı’s Doğubeyazıt district.

Buldan said that Minister Soylu called her by phone and told her; “We will bring you into line. You have no right to live anymore. Go wherever you want.”

During a visit to AKP Esenler district branch on Thursday, the minister admitted that he had called Buldan and threatened her.

Soylu also said he instructed that CHP officials will not be admitted to the protocol at the funerals of slain Turkish soldiers.

Arrogant and challenging, Soylu added at a press conference that indeed, he had told Buldan a lot more than what she said.

The Executive Council of the Peoples’ Democratic Party subsequently issued a press statement pointing to the continued efforts of the Interior Minister to escalate the debate.

In the statement the HDP said that “the Interior Minister alone will be responsible for any attack on our members, our party and the population. We inform the public that we have filed a complaint against him so that he will be held legally accountable."