On Monday, at least 718 activists from the democratic opposition, mainly People's Democratic Party (HDP) members, were arrested by the police in Turkey.

The Association of Working People Migrants in Europe (AGEB) condemns the repression and says: “It was not enough for the regime to hide its defeat by inciting chauvinism spreading the fake news that the PKK had killed the 13 hostage soldiers, while it was clear from the beginning that in fact they have been killed by the Turkish army raids. On the morning of 15 February the state attacked the HDP and tried to put another cover over its defeat in Gare."

In its statement, the association refers to the profound political and economic crisis of the regime in Ankara and adds: “The regime has the police and army march against workers who seek their rights. The protests against the appointment of an AKP member as rector of Boğaziçi University have received wide support in society. The state attacks the protests with police assaults and torture, arrests and imprisonment. The regime tries to silence the women's and LGBTI+ movements through lynch mobs. Police beat up people protesting against poverty, hunger and unemployment."

The association criticizes that the Turkish state is using the pandemic to cut out on rights and increase the threats against Kurds and their freedom movement. “The invasion of Rojava and the siege of the Medya defense areas, are focused the destruction of the guerrillas. But not only that, the regime is trying to ban the HDP, subordinate town halls to trustees, arrest members of parliament and exercise permanent repression against the democratic opposition."

In order to cover up the attacks on Gare, AGEB explains, the regime "stormed many HDP buildings and arrested 718 party activists" on February 15. The association points out that Erdoğan had declared that he would make an important statement on February 10, but that statement did not materialize and instead the Turkish military had to withdraw from Gare. AGEB continues: “The regime has been defeated in Gare, so fascism has now targeted the HDP again. This is a clear expression of the hopelessness of their situation."

The association calls for protests against the war in Kurdistan and the invasion and declares: “Let's stop the attacks on the HDP together. We call on all militant forces to act against fascism, because it is the main cause of the problems."