A massive rally took place in Cologne against the AKP government’s political genocide operations targeting Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) and the free press in Turkey and Kurdistan. Nearly one hundred thousand people gathered in Cologne to protest the arrest of journalists and HDP parliamentarians including Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ. AABF organized the rally, which was supported by the Democratic Kurdish Society Center (NAV-DEM), Democratic Strength Unity Platform formed by leftist organizations from Turkey, Die Linke, Greens Party, FDP and many other organizations from Kurdistan, Germany and Turkey. German press syndicate president Frank Überal made the opening speech of the rally, criticized the oppression of the free press and the imprisonment of journalists in Turkey, and called upon German and EU politicians to not sacrifice anything for human rights and break their silence on the arrests of scientists, politicians, journalists and academics in Turkey.

‘DIRTY WAR WAGED AGAINST KURDISH PEOPLE’

Die Linke parliamentarian Sevim Dağdelen spoke after Überal and criticized the Islamic dictatorship of Erdoğan and the German government supporting Erdoğan’s policies and giving Erdoğan financial and military aid. Dağdelen said ‘the Turkish state ended the peace negotiations with the Kurdish people last summer, and has been waging a barbaric war over the past year. Thousands of Kurds have been killed over the past year. The German state should stop its military and intelligence aid immediately and put an end to its collaboration with Turkey.’

‘LETS GET RID OF THE AKP AND ERDOĞAN’

Europe Alevi Unions Confederation (AABK) president Hüseyin Mat addressed the protestors and emphasized that a dictator has been ruling Turkey. Mat called upon the protestors to get rid of the AKP and Erdoğan together and carry the will of people that believe in democracy and freedom to power.

‘THEIR PLANS WILL BE UPSET’

Democratic Society Congress (DTK) Co-President Hatip Dicle also spoke during the rally and said that they would not allow AKP fascism to grow anymore. Dicle recalled the arrests of HDP parliamentarians and co-presidents a week ago and the closure of 370 associations in Turkey, and said that the AKP’s plans will be upset and people such as the thousands of protestors in Cologne will be the ones to liberate arrested politicians and journalists.

FDP politician Tobias Huch said that Erdoğan’s government is similar to Hitler’s fascism, and called for international solidarity against Erdoğan.

‘EUROPE SHOULD STAND UP’

Former HDP Istanbul parliamentarian Turgut Öker spoke during the rally and stated that it is the responsibility of democratic and diverse opposition to resist Erdoğan’s dictatorship, and the Democracy Front was created 5 years ago to fulfill this responsibility. Öker added that Europe should stand up against Erdoğan, whose fascism can only be defeated through unity and solidarity.

Lastly, Hessen parliamentarian Mürvet Öztürk, Greens parliamentarian Mehmet Kılıç, Arif Ünal and several politicians addressed the protestors, and the rally ended with the musical performances of Pınar Aydınlar and Hozan Cömert.