content tagged with DEM Party

Pro-Kurdish DEM Party Spokesperson: Integration a mutual process of change and transformation

Pro-Kurdish DEM Party Spokesperson: Integration a mutual process of change and transformation

DEM Party Spokesperson Ayşegül Doğan said, “The process is at a critical stage. No concrete steps are being taken regarding the requirements for transitioning to a new period.”

10 October 2025

Tuğçe Yılmaz

'PKK disarmament is not an end, but the first step toward an honorable peace'

Q&A WITH TUNCER BAKIRHAN

'PKK disarmament is not an end, but the first step toward an honorable peace'

We spoke with DEM Party Co-Chair Bakırhan about the debates on resolving the Kurdish question, the operations targeting the CHP, and the role of socialists and other segments of society in the process.

9 July 2025 Tuğçe Yılmaz

Hatimoğulları: Government is way too slow and timid

Hatimoğulları: Government is way too slow and timid

Co-chair of the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), Tülay Hatimoğulları, criticized the government for failing to take the necessary steps amid a shifting political landscape. She emphasized the urgency of action, saying, “Words are not enough; now is the time for action.”

Tuğçe Yılmaz

Sezai Temelli: Constitutional debates are incomplete without legal guarantees

Sezai Temelli: Constitutional debates are incomplete without legal guarantees

As part of the peace and democratic society process, we spoke with DEM Party Group Deputy Chair Sezai Temelli about the upcoming amendments to the prison release bill and who they would affect.

29 May 2025 Tuğçe Yılmaz

DEM Party and AKP discuss peace process and prison reform bill

DEM Party and AKP discuss peace process and prison reform bill

Following the PKK's announcement of its dissolution and disarmament, the DEM Party initiated a round of talks with political parties, concluding with a visit to the AKP.

DEM Party and MHP discuss parliamentary commission and constitution

DEM Party and MHP discuss parliamentary commission and constitution

The DEM Party stated that their meeting with Bahçeli took place in a "highly constructive atmosphere" and announced that they will meet with the AKP delegation tomorrow.

MHP and DEM Party exchange Eid visits for the first time

MHP and DEM Party exchange Eid visits for the first time

In a symbolic gesture amid ongoing political tension over recent protests and renewed dialogue on a potential Kurdish peace initiative, the two parties exchanged simultaneous visits.

Government appoints trustee to DEM-led Kağızman municipality

Government appoints trustee to DEM-led Kağızman municipality

The pro-Kurdish party has now lost 12 municipalities.

24 February 2025

Kars district mayor given prison sentence on 'terrorism' charges

Kars district mayor given prison sentence on 'terrorism' charges

The mayor is expected to be removed from office and replaced with a government-appointed trustee.

21 February 2025

DEM Party delegation makes second visit to meet PKK leader in prison

DEM Party delegation makes second visit to meet PKK leader in prison

The meetings come in the wake of nationalist leader Devlet Bahçeli’s initiatives.

22 January 2025

Akdeniz District Municipality Co-Chairs Hoşyar Sarıyıldız and Nuriye Aslan detained

Akdeniz District Municipality Co-Chairs Hoşyar Sarıyıldız and Nuriye Aslan detained

DEM Party Mersin Member of Parliament Ali Bozan said, “Police told us, ‘Government trustees have been appointed to Akdeniz Municipality, the decree will be published on the Mersin Governorate website. The appointment of trustees to elected positions constitutes usurpation, it is the theft of the people’s will”.

10 January 2025

Öcalan: This is an era of peace, democracy and fraternity for Turkey and the region

Öcalan: This is an era of peace, democracy and fraternity for Turkey and the region

DEM Party announces that PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan proposes “constructive solutions to counter the imposed scenarios of a bleak future”.

29 December 2024

Ministry of Justice permits İmralı meeting

Ministry of Justice permits İmralı meeting

The Ministry of Justice has positively responded to the application the People’s Equality and Democracy Party (DEM) made to meet with the PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan. The meeting could take place tomorrow if weather permits.

27 December 2024

Pro-Kurdish leader says Bahçeli’s Öcalan proposal has merit but doubts government’s intentions

Pro-Kurdish leader says Bahçeli’s Öcalan proposal has merit but doubts government’s intentions

Bakırhan has said that the ruling bloc lacks a concrete plan regarding the Kurdish issue and warned them against possible military action targeting the Kurdish-led administration in northern Syria.

19 November 2024

Mistreatment at Batman protests following pro-Kurdish mayor’s removal

Mistreatment at Batman protests following pro-Kurdish mayor’s removal

Dozens of people have been detained over the past week during the protests.

11 November 2024

An ‘event’ and afterwards: The handshake between Bahçeli and DEM deputies

An ‘event’ and afterwards: The handshake between Bahçeli and DEM deputies

Authoritarian states know that when they are under pressure, the "internal" will become stronger. Therefore, they have to read the internal balances correctly and take steps accordingly. Their aim is not to solve crises but to manage them.

14 October 2024 Özgür Amed

Pro-Kurdish DEM’s office in İstanbul targeted in armed attack

Pro-Kurdish DEM’s office in İstanbul targeted in armed attack

No one was injured in the attack that took place when the office was empty.

30 September 2024

DEM Party seeks answers to alleged police-gang ties in Kurdish city

DEM Party seeks answers to alleged police-gang ties in Kurdish city

A criminal gang is using threats and blackmail to force young women into sex work and criminal activities and are protected by the local law enforcement and judicial authorities, according to the pro-Kurdish party.

20 September 2024

Several detained in raids on DEM Party in İstanbul

Several detained in raids on DEM Party in İstanbul

Co-chairs of the party’s Esenyurt district organization are among the detained.

Turkey's opposition-held cities will resist stray dog massacre law

Turkey's opposition-held cities will resist stray dog massacre law

Main opposition CHP and pro-Kurdish DEM Party, which control local administrations in more than half of Turkey's provinces, declare resistance against the newly enacted law.

Volga Kuşçuoğlu

Turkey’s crackdown on Kurdish political movement expands to ‘terrorist weddings’

Turkey’s crackdown on Kurdish political movement expands to ‘terrorist weddings’

Within couple of weeks, dozens of people across the country faced detention for chanting 'terrorist' slogans during weddings. Such moves are part of a broader policy to suppress the Kurdish movement in Turkey, aligning with Erdoğan's intent to carry out large-scale military operations in both Iraq and Syria.

29 July 2024 Volga Kuşçuoğlu

DEM Party executive İlknur Birol's message before going to prison: ‘Let’s not get used to unlawfulness’

DEM Party executive İlknur Birol's message before going to prison: ‘Let’s not get used to unlawfulness’

“The real issue is that being part of the DEM Party, being a woman, and participating in democratic politics is seen as a crime in this country,” says Birol.

26 July 2024 Ruken Tuncel

DEM Party seeks suspension of municipal takeover in Hakkari

DEM Party seeks suspension of municipal takeover in Hakkari

The trustee appointments aim to eliminate the pro-Kurdish party from the political scene and undermine the will of its voters, the party asserts.

DEM members marching from İstanbul to Hakkari to protest removal of mayor

DEM members marching from İstanbul to Hakkari to protest removal of mayor

The government replaced the Hakkari co-mayor two months after the elections, citing a ‘terrorism’ investigation against him, in continuation of the ‘trustee policies.’

DEM Party calls for early elections

DEM Party calls for early elections

Following the arrest and replacement of their co-mayor in Hakkari, DEM Party called for an early election.

Tensions mount as pro-Kurdish mayor in Hakkari replaced

Tensions mount as pro-Kurdish mayor in Hakkari replaced

Mehmet Sıddık Akış, the co-mayor of the Hakkari province and member of the pro-Kurdish DEM Party, was arrested by security forces and replaced by a government-appointed trustee.

DEM Party Spokesperson Ayşegül Doğan banned from leaving the country

DEM Party Spokesperson Ayşegül Doğan banned from leaving the country

DEM Party Spokesperson Ayşegül Doğan was banned from boarding a flight at Istanbul Airport to attend the meeting of the Social Affairs Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Paris. The MP for the province of Şırnak, whose ban on traveling abroad was lifted in December 2023, was presented a “restriction” decision dated 2020.

Pro-Kurdish mayor arrested and replaced in Hakkari province

Pro-Kurdish mayor arrested and replaced in Hakkari province

Last night, the Hakkari Municipality in southeastern Turkey was raided by police, leading to the detention of co-mayor Mehmet Sıddık Akış and the subsequent appointment of a government-appointed trustee.

Armed attack on DEM Party office in Urfa

Armed attack on DEM Party office in Urfa

The attack was carried out by the brother of the Birecik district municipality, who had resigned from the pro-Kurdish party subsequent to his election.

DEM Party Batman provincial office raided by police

DEM Party Batman provincial office raided by police

The raid was reportedly carried out based on an "anonymous tip" against the party’s youth assemblies.

Tuğçe Yılmaz

'We won with women and children': DEM edges AKP in conservative stronghold

'We won with women and children': DEM edges AKP in conservative stronghold

The pro-Kurdish DEM Party has won Elazığ’s Karakoçan district by just over 200 votes. The ruling party’s candidate got nearly half of the vote in the previous election.

1 April 2024 Tuğçe Yılmaz

Newroz celebration in İstanbul drew a crowd of over 300,000 people to Yenikapı Square

Newroz celebration in İstanbul drew a crowd of over 300,000 people to Yenikapı Square

This year's celebrations, held under the slogan "Rabe dema azadî û serkeftinê ye - "Now is the time for freedom. Rise up", saw participation from all districts of İstanbul. However, police detained over 50 individuals due to restrictions on slogans and banners. A group of LGBTI+ individuals attempting to enter the rally area faced verbal and physical violence from the crowd.

18 March 2024 Tuğçe Yılmaz,Ali Dinç,Aren Yıldırım

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