Taşdemir: Women should give voice to Leyla Güven

HDP deputy Dilan Dirayet Taşdemir said: “As Kurdish women, we must give voice to Leyla Güven.”

Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Women's Assembly Spokesperson and Agri MP, Dilan Dirayet Taşdemir, held a press conference at the party headquarters.

She spoke about the situation of HDP Hakkari MP Leyla Güven who has been on a hunger strike for 65 days, demanding the end of the isolation imposed on Abdullah Öcalan. She also spoke about the Paris massacre, as well as Pakize Nayır, Seve Demir and Fatma Uyar who were killed in Silopi on 5 January 2016.

Taşdemir said that the murder of three Kurdish women politicians in Paris was the result of a conspiracy developed by a mentality trying to impose denial and assimilationist policies.

Paris massacre was the result of a conspiracy

Taşdemir added: “Evidences of how Ömer Güney, the murderer of Sakine, Fidan and Leyla, came to Turkey before the massacre are widely available. These are not claims, but the truth itself. The investigation carried out by the French authorities also includes similar content. We know that there has been a cover up on the investigation, and it is a cover up required by Turkey. If it wasn’t so - said the HDP deputy - the AKP deputies on Wednesday would not have rejected our request to establish an investigation commission. We know who carried out this conspiracy. The people and women will not abandon the search for justice and truth, not even in a hundred years.”

9 January should be turned into an international day of action

Taşdemir underlined that 9 January should be turned into an international day of action. “This systematic violence that targeted women continued. In Silopi, 3 Kurdish women, Seve, Pakize and Fatma, were murdered by those with the same mentality. Women's bodies were exposed, left on the street, thousands of women held hostage. This policy itself is an expression of how much they fear women's politics. Women continue to be the target of this systematic violence everywhere.”

Taşdemir underlined that the violence against women has been gone on for hundreds of years and pointed out that this violence was supported especially during the AKP's 16-year rule.

AKP ruling has been stained by violence against women

The HDP deputy added: “These violence policies aiming at women are specifically designed to hit women politicians and women on the forefront. In the last 6 years, this violence has been turned now also to individual people opposing the system. Women are confronted with the concept of violence in all areas of life, not just in prisons, in parliament, on the street.”

Leyla Güven’s demand is our demand

Talking about the situation of Leyla Güven, who has been on a hunger strike for 64 days, Taşdemir said: “Leyla Güven's health condition has reached a critical stage. We have serious concerns about her health. The historical struggle carried out by Güven has spread throughout prisons, Hewler and Europe. as the history of a historic struggle in In Turkey the history of prisons is a history of struggle and unfortunately also a history of massacres.

We call upon everyone to be sensitive at this time - said the HDP deputy - because new massacres and deaths are possible during this hunger strike. The government should give up this silent position as soon as possible and take steps to accept the hunger strikers demands. Nearly 100 prisoners continue their hunger strike in 30 prisons.”

Taşdemir emphasized that the hunger strikes are demanding the end of the isolation regime imposed on Mr. Abdullah Öcalan. “Layla’s demand is our demand.”

Mr. Öcalan has worked for a solution to war

Ending her remarks Taşdemir criticized the developing war policies in the Middle East and said: “Today, in the Middle East and Syria, there is a war-mongering and a policy of hostility against Kurds. We know how Mr. Abdullah Öcalan had worked tirelessly for solving the problems in both Syria, the Middle East and the four parts of Kurdistan. Demanding to end isolation also means defending the idea of coexistence among peoples.”