'AKP Appealed Against HDP Mayor-Elect Türk Because He is Old and Ill'

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Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Women Assembly has held a meeting at the party's headquarters in the capital Ankara, with the March 31 local elections, the ongoing hunger strikes in prisons and the works to do after the elections being on the agenda.

HDP Co-Chair Pervin Buldan made an opening speech at the meeting, touching on these issues.

"This the 156th day of dear Leyla Güven's hunger strike. Today, both in and out of the prison, thousands of people began hunger a hunger strike. Besides, beginning with aim of drawing attention to the problem of isolation, which is among the basic topics of Turkey's agenda, and the aim of ensuring Mr. Öcalan's meeting with his family and attorneys, this hunger strike has come to a critical stage."

"Women's representation is ensured"

"We would like to state that women's representation has been ensured in many places as a result of great efforts in the March 31 elections. Even though we fell behind compared to previous terms, we would like to state that we ensured women's representation in a higher rate than other parties and this was done as a result of our women colleagues' works.

"Although it has been more than ten days since the elections, there are still places where the mandates have not been given. Our Metropolitan Mayors of Mardin and Diyarbakır have not been given the mandate.

"Do you think it is this cheap?"

"AKP's petition of appeal for Mardin is so funny that... AKP submitted a petition of appeal on the ground that Ahmet Türk is old and has health problems. They would like to be given the mandate on the ground that Ahmet Türk is old. Do you think it is this cheap?

"I would like to call out to the YSK (Supreme Election Council) one again: In the processes of appeals which will be clear within today or tomorrow, I would like to state that they should not accept petitions of appeals regarding the municipalities that HDP won. I would like to state that they should not be a part of this game.

"I would like to state that, as the HDP, we won't stop pursuing this business politically and legally. I wish success to our colleagues. I congratulate our elected women mayors." (EMK/VK)