HDP denounces police chief over violent response to protest, sexist remarks

Photo: Mesopotamia Agency (MA)

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The police did not allow the Labor, Peace and Democracy Forces to gather in Taksim, İstanbul, on September 5 to protest the ban on a rally to mark September 1 World Peace day and detained 57 people.

Holding a press conference yesterday (September 9), the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Young Women's Coordination denounced the detentions and police violence.

HDP deputy Dersim Dağ pointed out to İstanbul Deputy Director of Security Muharrem Yazgan's sexist words against a woman during the events and said, "Yazgan, as he does in every demonstration, claimed like a fascist that he is 'the state' and attacked the democracy forces. As the HDP, we once again state that we will struggle against torture and masculine understanding."

Rojin Keskin, a member of the HDP Youth Assembly, said, "We were on the square because we want a life where women aren't harassed and raped. We were taken into custody by being subjected to insults and torture, and we were also subjected to violence in the police car. The woman police officer slapped and the man police officer punched me. We renew once again that we will not bow to the fascist mentality of the government."

An HDP member, Elif Bulut, said, "There was serious violence and sexist remarks against women. The violence continued in the vehicle. Muharrem Yazgan is a police chief that we have been confronting during demonstrations for a long time. He is a sexist person and leads the violence." (DŞ/VK)