Resistance continues in Mardin despite repression and obstruction

Protests against the seizure of HDP municipalities continue in Mardin on the 10th day.

On August 19, the AKP regime of Turkey seized the metropolitan municipalities of Amed (Diyarbakır), Mardin and Van by removing the democratically elected mayors and appointing trustees in their place.

Protests have continued for the 10th day in Mardin where HDP deputies and administrators staged a sit-in at the Karayolları Park in the city center.

People were not allowed to approach the park as it remained under police blockade. Journalists were not allowed either to cover the protest and HDP deputies live-streamed on their social media accounts.

Following the sit-in, HDP group made a statement amid tensions due to the obstruction attempts by the police.

Speaking here, HDP MP for Urfa, Nusrettin Maçin, called on the people of Turkey to stand with them against the political coup and seizure of people’s will in Kurdistan.

“This resistance which began in Kurdistan will spread everywhere. Unless the peoples of Turkey and Kurdistan stand in unity, these political coups will spread to all areas. Today, even we are denied the right to protest. Have a look at history. All the coup plotters fell one by one, and this will face the same end.”

Speaking after, HDP Batman MP Mehmet Şükrü Tiryaki stressed that they don’t have to get anyone’s permission to reclaim democracy and the votes of people. Referring to their ongoing protest, he said “we are using our democratic right”.

Tiryaki continued; “Those obeying the governor’s rules and ignoring the law are committing a crime. The governor goes too far and tries to ban protests, enjoying a right not granted to him by laws.

The HDP MP also criticised the obstruction of press, saying; “You cannot prevent people’s right to information. This is a constitutional crime. Those obstructing the journalists will give an account before justice one day.”

Following the press statement, the group marched to the HDP headquarters, chanting “Repression cannot intimidate us”, “We are not afraid, we will not be silenced, we will not obey”.