New repressive attacks against the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) in Turkey and Northern Kurdistan are taking place every day. Last week, the mandate of the MPs Leyla Güven and Musa Farısoğulları was withdrawn. Both MPs were arrested and imprisoned a few hours later. Güven was released after five days because she was close to the end of her current prison sentence. In such a climate of persecution, there is great resentment. The contradiction now extends far beyond the electorate of the HDP.

HDP member of parliament Mahmut Toğrul spoke to ANF about the current mood among the population

“The people are very angry”

Repression against the HDP has increased continuously since the run-up to the parliamentary elections on 7 June 2015, tells Toğrul. In contacts with HDP voters, he senses the growing anger among them: "People are aware that repression increases the more the AKP/MHP government comes under pressure. They associate the intensification of the policy of violence with the decline of the AKP and are very angry, because this policy is an attack on their will and dignity. They are resisting it. Everywhere there is opposition to the attacks. The people see that the state can only keep itself on its feet by means of violence, and they tell us that. This view is correct, because the AKP uses the security forces and the justice system to organise the attacks on us. The AKP is trying to educate the rest of the social opposition through these attacks.”

Repression at all levels

The HDP deputy continues: “The oppression is primarily directed against the Kurds, but secondly against any opposition to the AKP. Not only Kurds, but also the other opposition circles affected by repression seem to understand what the government is doing here. This is also shown in public surveys.

This is why people of the most diverse cultures and faiths now see their representation in the HDP. This gives strength to both our party and our political program."