Party members who reached Van from Hakkari were able to follow their program in the city for two days before setting off to Bitlis today.

Party members gathered at the HDP Van Provincial Organization, where they opened a banner saying “Em bi hev re” (We are together) and made a press statement.

DBP co-chair, Saliha Aydeniz, said that they were welcomed with enthusiasm in Hakkari, where they started the march, and that they saw the same enthusiasm in Van, despite all the pressure.

Aydeniz added that they will be go to Amed after visiting Bitlis and Batman today. Pointing out that the AKP-MHP continues its dirty policies to hit the march, Aydeniz said: “They want to stop the march on the grounds of the dangers posed by coronavirus. Their concern is not coronavirus, but fear of democracy. We know that well.”

Aydeniz condemned the attacks on South Kurdistan and said: “The AKP continues its political coup. This democracy march will bring democracy to the people of Turkey and freedom to Kurdistan. We condemn the attacks against Maxmur and Shengal. This government insists on war, insists on fascism. The HDP opposes this. The HDP offers an alternative system to the society in Turkey. The government is afraid of democracy, freedom and equality. This march will end in Ankara. It is a march to make Turkey taking a breath and defeating fascim.”