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Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş answered journalists’ questions ahead of a central executive board meeting of the party.
Asked about the latest decision to forcibly take seven HDP MPs to testify, he answered; “There are over 550 cases against us. 102 of these are against me alone. If the court has already issued an order to bring the MPs to testify by force, it is up to the discretion of law enforcement forces to carry out the order.
Noting that “the court has the authorization, not the Prime Minister”, Demirtaş added that the fact the PM was making statements on an issue that had already been passed to court attested to the lack of independence and impartiality of the legal system.
“Wave of Chauvinism”
Some highlights from Demirtaş’s statement ahead of the board meeting were:
* “No one is safe in terms of justice in a legal system in which prosecutors and judges get orders directly from politics.
* “The HDP is of great importance for peace in this country. It is not appropriate to dissolve the HDP through the judiciary.
* “Turkey had taken an important opportunity following the coup attempt. This was the chance to establish peace again. Yet instead of making use of this opportunity, the Government instead wanted to create a wave of chauvinism, and chose to acquire unity and solidarity this way. That’s also why the HDP has been facing such intense attacks.
“The Prime Minister is responsible”
* “Today the PM is giving a calamitous and unlawful order to governors: ‘Don’t be afraid to make mistakes,’ he says. This means, ‘you can act beyond the law, aggrieve others, feel free to do so, and we back you up’. As of now, he is effectively the one to politically and legally account for any crime that governors commit.
Civil resistance
* “We will resist every unlawful practice. Civil resistance is a right. I recall the evening of July 15. You have this right, and we don’t? Do people only come out to the streets when summoned by the AKP (Justice and Development Party)? Every citizen in this country has the right to resist unlawfulnes and fascism. (YY/DG)
