HDP celebrates 8th anniversary

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The Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) marked its 8th foundation anniversary with a ceremony held in Bostancı Performance and Cultural Center in İstanbul yesterday (October 18).

While COVID-19 measures were observed during the ceremony, it was attended by a large number of senior politicians from the party such as Co-Chairs Pervin Buldan and Mithat Sancar, MPs Tayyip Temel, Saruhan Oluç, Meral Danış-Beştaş, Züleyha Gülüm, Serpil Kemalbay, Musa Piroğlu.

In the hall where the ceremony was held, there were various banners. They read, "We, women, are determined to struggle insistently," "We raise the struggle for rights, law and justice", "We meet for bright days."

Messages by CHP Chair, İstanbul Mayor

The anniversary ceremony of the HDP started with slogans, "HDP is hope, hope stands firm", "HDP is people, people are here" and "Political prisoners are our honor." Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) Chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and İstanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu also sent messages to mark the 8th anniversary of the HDP.

Addressing Co-Chairs Buldan and Sancar, İmamoğlu said, "I would like to once again extend my thanks to both you and all your party members for exercising your will in favor of democracy against injustice and unfairness in our journey that we started for a more fair and equal İstanbul."

Concluding his message, İmamoğlu said, "On this occasion, I once again underline that we will never give up raising peace and fraternity and send my most heartfelt greetings and love to all participants."

CHP Chair Kılıçdaroğlu's message was also read out. Thanking the party for its invitation to the ceremony, Kılıçdaroğlu wished the party success "in the works that the HDP would contribute to the democracy of Turkey at a time when the country's longing for justice was gradually growing."

Demirtaş: You are a diamond, HDP

Following these messages from the main opposition party, the messages of persons who have so far co-chaired the party were also read out.

Sending a message to the ceremony from Edirne Prison, former Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş said, "At a time when politics has got so dirty, you are a diamond, HDP. They can throw mud at you all they want, you are our dearest. Happy anniversary, HDP. Many happy returns of the day..."

Figen Yüksekdağ, another arrested Co-Chair, also sent a message from Kandıra Prison: "You are our voice, HDP. We are so lucky to have you."

Uğurlu: Yes, we indeed belong to streets

Peoples' Democratic Congress (HDK) Co-Spokesperson İdil Uğurlu also addressed the crowd during the ceremony. Noting that "though it had been 8 years since the HDP was founded, HDP's march was not older," Uğurlu stated, "Erdoğan said, 'They belong to the streets.' He was right. We indeed belong to the streets, it is where we have come into existence."

She also added, "We will keep waging our struggle at the Parliament. We will not take even a single step back from this. Everyone, friends and foes alike, should know this. We will not abandon the fields despite all pressures.

"We will raise the struggle more and more with each passing day. They attack us because our struggle is getting stronger everyday. We are not afraid, we have paid a high price. We will make the sun rejoin with the soil."

Afterwards, Co-Chairs Pervin Buldan and Mithat Sancar also addressed the crowd on the occasion of HDP's 8th anniversary. The event ended with the songs sung by Pınar Aydınlar, Rojda and Beksav Music Group. People in the hall and musicians on the stage sang, "Bella Ciao."

Highlights from the event

*The hall was decorated with HDP flags. There were also several banners in the hall, some of them read, "We are insistent on freedom and determined to struggle," "Tekoşîna jinan li her derê ye-Women's struggle is everywhere", "Em bawerîyê mezin dikin, meşa azadîyê didomînin/ We raise the belief, continue the march for freedom", "We raise the struggle for rights, law and justice", "Li hemberî faşizmê û êrîşan berxwedanê mezin dikin-We raise the struggle against fascism and attacks", "We will come and defeat fascism", "Together we resist the lies, plunder and exploitation."

*Some citizens wore traditional/local clothes.

*In entering the hall, the participants were asked to present their HES code indicating that they were not infected with COVID-19. Their temperatures were also taken.

*Confederation of Public Employees Trade Unions (KESK) Chair Mahmut Bozgeyik, Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DİSK) Chair Arzu Çerkezoğlu, writer and theologist İhsan Eliaçık, Human Rights Association (İHD) İstanbul Chair Gülseren Yoleri, human rights activist Leman Yurtsever, MP Hüda Kaya, LGBTI+ groups, lawyer Can Atalay from the Social Rights Association, artists Pınar Aydınlar, Rojda, New Life Theater performers and Arzu Kayaoğlu from Libertarian Lawyers Association (ÖHD) were also in the hall for the 8th anniversary of the HDP.

*The messages of former HDP Co-Chairs were read out during the event. Among those messages were also those of the first HDP Co-Chair Yavuz Önen and Fatma Gök as well as arrested former Co-Chairs Sebahat Tuncel, Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ.

Kurdish politicians from the HEP to HDP

The tradition of Kurdish parties that now continues with the HDP started with the People's Labor Party (HEP) in 1990. Of 10 parties, seven were faced with lawsuits for their closure and five were closed. Almost all party chairs were imprisoned for some time. The parties closed by court rulings were the HEP, Freedom and Equality Party (ÖZEP), Freedom and Democracy Party (ÖZDEP), Democracy Party (DEP), People's Democratic Party (HADEP) and Democratic Society Party (DTP. The Democratic People's Party (DEHAP) was dissolved while the lawsuit for its closure was still underway.

(EMK/SD)

*Photos: Evrim Kepenek/bianet, Fatoş Erdoğan