HDP: It is a Coup, With No Ifs, Ands, or Buts

* Photo: AA - Archive

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Shortly after Peoples' Democratic Party's (HDP) Leyla Güven and Musa Farisoğulları and main opposition Republican People's Party's (CHP) Enis Berberoğlu were stripped of MP status yesterday (June 4), the HDP has released a written statement for the press about the issue.

As the 16th Penal Chamber of the Court of Cassation has upheld the prison sentences of Güven, Farisoğulları and Berberoğlu, they were stripped of MP status yesterday and have been arrested shortly afterwards.

CLICK - Stripped of MP Status, HDP's Güven and Farisoğulları, CHP's Berberoğlu Arrested

The statement has emphasized that "Turkey now witnesses yet another coup today" and read, "This pro-coup mindset has been prevailing on the Parliament as a dishonor for 26 years."

Referring to the then pro-Kurdish Democracy Party (DEP) MPs stripped of MP duties in 1994, the HDP has noted that "27 MPs insisting on democratic politics have been relieved of MP duties since then."

As reported by the Mezopotamya Agency, the HDP has sressed that "the immoral and fascist coup against the people's will will not be recognized." Other highlights from the statement are as follows:

'Enmity towards people's will'

"As it is also seen in the practice of coup through appointment of trustees, the partners of the system of evil impose its will on the people, saying, 'You will either decide as I wish, or I will not recognize your decisions.' It is is a coup, with no ifs, ands, or buts. It is is enmity to people's will.

'Hollow anti-coup discourse'

"Defining May 27 [1960] and September 12 [1980] as 'coups' at every opportunity and developing a hollow 'anti-coup discourse' around them, the government has been attacking the people's way to such an extent that people will almost wish mercy to the military coups in Turkey. Since July 20, 2015, a systematic practice of coups has been in place.

"The palace regime, with this attack, has once again proven that it is, in fact, a regime of coup. This coup is an answer given to the 'Document of Democratic Attitude' unveiled by our co-chairs on Monday and our call to the society of Turkey for a 'united and joint struggle.'

"With this decision, the government has once again shown that it is afraid of our power, politics and projects that will be a solution for Turkey.

'We have received the palace regime's message'

"We, as a political party still following the tradition of democratic politics, have come to these days not with legislative immunities, not by being elected as members of parliament, but by representing the legitimate will of our people in the face of incessant and systematic attacks.

"Today, we have received the message that the palace regime has given with this attack. Our answer is equally clear: We will keep on struggling to build Turkey's democratic future in the face of these attacks.

"These attacks will only make our determination and perseverance sharper. This aggression will not intimidate us, it will not make us leave the democratic positions that we have won.

'Joining of democratic forces'

"On this occasion, on behalf of our party, we are - once again - making a call for joining all democratic forces against this aggression and arrogance targeting all social groups.

"A democratic future and free Turkey depend on us despite our all difference.

"Stopping this aggression against our people today is the shared duty of us all as the opposition and we call on everyone to claim this duty."

What happened?

CHP İstanbul MP Enis Berberoğlu and HDP Hakkari and Diyarbakır MPs Leyla Güven and Musa Farisoğulları were stripped of their MP status on June 4 on the ground that there were finalized court rulings against them.

Put on trial with Can Dündar, the former Editor-in-Chief of daily Cumhuriyet, for giving him the footage of National Intelligence Organization (MİT) trucks allegedly carrying weapons to Syria, Enis Berberoğlu has been sentenced to 5 years, 10 months for "disclosing information that needs to be kept confidential for the security of the state or domestic or international interests for purposes of political and military espionage."

While Diyarbakır 2nd Heavy Penal Court has sentenced Musa Farisoğulları to 9 years in prison for "membership of an armed terrorist organization", Leyla Güven has also been sentenced to 6 years, 3 months in prison on the same charge and by the same court.

The prison sentences of Berberoğlu, Farisoğulları and Güven have been upheld by the 16th Penal Chamber of the Court of Cassation.

They were arrested on June 4, 2020. (EKN/SD)