ANKARA - The Human Rights Association (IHD) issued a written statement on the attack on the March for Democracy launched by the HDP from Edirne and Hakkari on 15 June.

 

In the statement, the IHD reminded that the AKP and MHP had wanted to prevent the March for Democracy organised by the HDP since it was announced. To that end, governors in various cities issued a ban of public activities and closed entry and exit to the cities through which the march was supposed to arrive.

 

“Despite this, - said the statement – the HDP exercised its constitutional right and started the march on 15 June. People wanting to join the march were detained in various cities."

 

The statement added: "The Turkish government has violated its own constitution which allows, in Article 34, unarmed and peaceful demonstrations and meeting."

 

The IHD continued: “The HDP was prevented from exercising the most natural right of assembly by an authoritarian state.”