ESP, HDP and SGDF members organized a protest demonstration in front of Çağlayan Courthouse to condemn Reina massacre, where 39 people lost their lives, and demanded the release of party members that were detained while protesting the massacre yesterday. Many political parties supported the protest, where people held signs that read “Murderers are free, protestors are in custody” and chanted slogans such as “Freedom for detainees” and “Murderers are free, socialists are in custody.”

ESP Istanbul Provincial Chair Ali Haydar Akdeniz recalled that an ISIS member massacred 39 people in Reina nightclub, and emphasized that they know well who are responsible for ISIS massacres in Antep, Sultanahmet, Ankara, Amed, Suruç and Istanbul.

'WE WILL NEVER OBEY THE FORCES BEHIND THIS MASSACRE'

Akdeniz commemorated the people that were killed in the massacre, and described the detention of ESP, HDP and SGDF members as tragicomic. Akdeniz said “A person that massacred people with a Kalashnikov is roaming free, and those that condemn this massacre are detained. What a contradiction!"

Akdeniz emphasized that they would never obey the forces behind this massacre, and said that they would demand justice for the people that died in Reina just like they have been demanding justice for the people that were killed in Suruç. Akdeniz drew attention to the security weaknesses on the day of the attack, and questioned why there was only one police officer at one of the most famous night clubs in Istanbul.

'REASON FOR THE MASSACRES IS THE INSISTENCE ON THE WAR CONCEPT'

HDP Central Executive Committee member Gülsüm Ağaoğlu stated that massacres are normalized and reactions to these massacres are blocked in Turkey, noting that the AKP government’s insistence on the war concept repeats history.

Ağaoğlu recalled that new years celebrations had been targeted and slammed before the Reina attack, and condemned the detention of socialists that protested the massacre. Ağaoğlu demanded the immediate release of the detainees and the Kurdish politicians that are being held as prisoners, and said that resistance would prevail.

Sıla Kaymak spoke on behalf of SGDF and highlighted that many of the detained protestors are Suruç veterans or the witnesses of Ankara massacre. Kaymak noted that perpetrators roam free while protesters are detained, and described the people that targeted new year celebrations through fatwas as the forces responsible for Reina massacre. Kaymak emphasized that they would continue to seek justice for Suruç, Ankara, Amed and Reina massacres.

Deniz Bakır spoke on behalf of ETHA News agency and said that massacres have taken place in Turkey over the past 2 years for the establishment of a one-man’s dictatorship in the country.

Lastly, Fadime Çelebi spoke on behalf of Socialist Women’s Assembly and said that the AKP government’s end is near and the future belongs to the oppressed.