NEWS

Latest News

• Support for HDP from IRAN PEN 

  Bahram Rahmani, the head of IRAN PEN, a member of international PEN, has said that they support the HDP in the 7 June elections as the HDP is the only party that defends peace and freedom of expression in Turkey.
• HDP visits new Turkish Cypriot President 

  A HDP delegation has visited the recently-elected President of the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus [only recognised by Turkey], Mustafa Akıncı, to congratulate him on his success.
• HDP Dersim candidates call for people to return to the villages 

  HDP Dersim parliamentary candidates Edibe Şahin and Alican Önlü are continuing their campaigning in the villages and districts of the province.
• Bombardment and ambushes by the Turkish military 

  People’s Defence Forces (HPG) Press Office has issued a statement reporting that military operations carried out by the Turkish army are continuing to increase.
• Prosecutor: I will keep them in custody for 40 days if I want 

  Those arrested on the May Day demonstration in Istanbul are being denied all their legal rights.
• Huge security measures in Amed before Erdogan’s visit 

  The Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, is paying a visit to the main Kurdish city, Amed, to make a speech at a rally in Station Square.
• Asya Abdullah: The solution lies in the cantonal system 

  Democratic Union Party (PYD) Co-president Asya Abdullah said they believe the solution to problems in Syria lies in the cantonal system.
• Yüksek: We will live without being dependent on the state 

  Party of Democratic Regions (DBP) Co-president Yüksek spoke at a May Day rally in Batman, drawing attention to the exploitation of workers.
• Images from May Day in Istanbul 

  Turkish police staged crackdown on thousands of people who poured out into the streets today to celebrate the International Worker's Day in Istanbul.
• Operation and bombardment in Dersim 

  The People’s Defence Forces (HPG) Press Office has said in a written statement that operations, bombardments and aerial activity of the Turkish military is continuing to increase.
• Large May Day rally in Batman 

  A May Day rally in Batman today was attended by thousands of workers and democratic forces, all of which unfurled their flags and banners in a colourful and pluralist way.
• 136 detained in Istanbul 

  Istanbul police directorate has announced that 136 people have been taken into custody so far. As many as 20,000 police have been deployed around the Taksim Square.
• Yüksekdağ: People being prevented only have carnations in their hands 

  HDP Co-president Figen Yüksekdağ joined trade unionists meeting in Beşiktaş before marching to Taksim and called for the barricades around Taksim Square to be removed.
• Cizîr Canton co-presidency celebrates May Day 

  The co-presidency of the Cizîr (Jazireh) Canton of Rojava has issued a written statement to mark May Day, calling for a struggle to build a democratic society based on mutual recognition of peoples.
• More arrests in Istanbul 

  The May Day crisis desk set up by lawyers has reported that there have been 80 arrests so far in Istanbul.
• Turkey will not be free without May Day celebrations 

  Kani Beko, the head of the largest trade union confederation on the left, DISK, said: “Turkey cannot be free if Taksim is not free. Turkey will not be a democratic country if the workers cannot celebrate May Day in Taksim”.
• Remembering Workers' Day of 1977 

  Labour Day celebrations on Taksim Square in 1977 had seen the participation of well over 500,000 citizens. Many workers had not even entered the square when shots were heard.
• Massive police presence in Istanbul for May Day 

  Thousands of police have been deployed around Taksim Square in Istanbul to prevent workers and people wishing to celebrate May Day in the square.
• İmralı delegation: Our final warning to the government 

  The İmralı delegation has made an important statement regarding the stage reached in the "Process of Resolution".
• Yazidi delegation meets United Left and Greens in EP 

  A Sinjar Yazidi delegation in Europe has held a meeting with the European United Left and The Greens/European Free Alliance groups in the European Parliament.
• 60 MEPs call on EU to support reconstruction of Kobanê 

  60 members of the European Parliament have issued a statement calling on EU and member states to provide urgent support for the reconstruction in Kobanê and ensure the opening of a humanitarian corridor into the town.
• Preliminary meeting ahead of Geneva 3 

  Democratic Union Party (PYD) co-chair Salih Müslim said that the meeting to be held on May 4 is a preliminary meeting ahead of Geneva 3 and they were going to be there officially.
• PACE rapporteur in Ankara prior to delegation visit on 5 May 

  A delegation from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) is to visit Turkey in early May to observe the pre-election atmosphere.
• Three people arrested for participating Kobanê resistance 

  Three people who participated the Kobanê resistance have been arrested in İzmir on charges of being members of an armed organisation.
• DBP Dersim former co-chair arrested 

  DBP (Party of Democratic Regions, formerly BDP) Dersim former co-chair Ergin Doğru has been arrested in İstanbul and sent to prison.