Selahattin Demirtaş: Let’s turn to collective conscience, not rage

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA)

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

Held in the Edirne Prison in northwest Turkey for nearly five years, former Co-Chair of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Selahattin Demirtaş has made a statement about the racist attack which claimed the lives of seven members of the Dedeoğulları family in Konya.

Making a statement on Twitter via his lawyers, Demirtaş has said, "My brothers and sisters who lost their lives in the brutal massacre in Konya rest in peace; I extend my condolences to their all relatives and our entire society; I emphatically share their sorrow and grief."

Calling on the people "to not feel hopeless, desperate or abandoned," Selahattin Demirtaş has said the following:

"Unfortunately, the main reason behind this massacre, tension and conflicts is the discriminatory policies of the government, its targeting language and the dirty calculations of the gangs, inside and outside the state, who are encouraged by this.

My humble recommendation to our entire people, Turkish and Kurdish, is the following: Don't give credence or bow down to the language of hate and discriminatory policies. Let's act with wisdom and patience regardless of the circumstances. Let's turn to the collective conscience that we will create together, not to rage.

"We are working hard for an environment where the law works and justice prevails. For this reason, let's be calm and don't feel hopeless, desperate or abandoned. It will perhaps be difficult, but we will most definitely bring peace, democracy, equality, freedom and justice."

What happened?

Armed assailants raided the house of Dedeoğulları family in the Hasanköy Neighborhood in Konya's Meram in the evening hours on July 30. They shot seven family members to death, set the house on fire and ran away.

Several police and paramedic teams were referred to the scene of the incident upon reports. The dead bodies of Yaşar Dedeoğulları, Barış Dedeoğulları, Serpil Dedeoğulları, Serap Dedeoğulları, İpek Dedeoğulları, Metin Dedeoğulları and Sibel Dedeoğulları were found at home which was first raided by the group, then set on fire before leaving.

Living in the same neighbourhood for 24 years, the Dedeoğulları family was subjected to the racist attack of nearly 60 people on May 12. "We are [ultranationalist] idealists, we will not let you live here," a racist group threatened the family and severely wounded 7 family members, including four women. Of the 7 people arrested after the attack, 5 were released. (RT/SD)