HDP Co-Chair Sancar made a speech at the meeting ‘We defend the HDP’s right to do politics’ organized by 46 professional and labour organizations, political parties and non-governmental organizations that came together at the call of the Human Rights Association (IHD).

“Seeing our determination gives us great enthusiasm and strength. Coming together and seeing our determination to walk together is the strongest source of hope in this country,” Sancar said.

'NO COMMON STRUGGLE, NO RESISTANCE'

Sancar pointed out that the closure case against the HDP and the repressive policies do not target his party alone. “Even though the main target seems to be the HDP, their ultimate goal is to suppress the forces of democracy, to eliminate democratic politics and the struggle for rights. In other words, the closure case and the anti-HDP campaign, violence and crackdown target the forces of democracy, the pursuit of democracy and the insistence on freedom and peace in Turkey. That's why I'm reading the title of the meeting here not as ‘We defend the HDP’s right to do politics’, but as ‘We defend the struggle for peace, the insistence on democracy and the longing for freedom’. The only way to do this is to raise the common struggle. Unless we are able to increase the joint struggle, it will not be possible for us to introduce strong resistance against this cruel power, against the mentality that considers all kinds of dirty, illegitimate and unlawful means as permissible.”

Sancar emphasized that the meeting was an expression of the will for a common struggle.

“This meeting is very precious because it is a strong statement of will which, I believe, is going to grow stronger. This unity will raise the strongest voice against this order of war, violence and plunder. This unity will reveal the power to remove this order. Another page must also be opened in the struggle for freedom. We will continue our legal struggle. We keep saying this, but we are not that naive to resolve all problems through the law. We consider the legal struggle an important sphere of ​​political struggle.”

GERGERLIOĞLU DECISION

Sancar continued, “This government has no problem in disregarding the law. As a matter of fact, the decision of the Constitutional Court for Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu 4 days ago, which called for his release, is not implemented by this government. His parliamentary seat was unjustly revoked and his right to freedom was violated. The Constitutional Court itself says that his arrest was unlawful and unconstitutional, but they are still keeping him in prison. Here, we state once again that we defend the freedom of Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu and the freedom of all of our friends who have been taken prisoner in the struggle for democracy. Our friends gathered today for the Justice Vigil in front of Sincan Prison. Unfortunately, the security forces intervened very violently.

They detained our friends, including Salih Gergerlioğlu, son of Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu, by using violence. We also condemn this. We demand an immediate release of Gergerlioğlu and other political prisoners. I would like to express my sincere thanks to all of you. I would like to state once again that the decision to expand the struggle gives hope to the whole society.”

The meeting ended after Sancar's speech.