ANKARA - Seventeen senior figures of the HDP have been remanded in custody after a new investigation was opened into the 2014 "Kobani protests" in Kurdish-majority provinces.

 

A delegation headed by Sweden's Left Party Chair Jonas Sjöstedt yesterday (October 6) visited the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) headquarters in the capital Ankara.

 

Sweden's Deputy Parliamentary Speaker Lotta Johansson Formarve, the Left Party's foreign relations director Håkan Svenneling and Left International Forum (VIF) director Jonas Kårling were also in the delegation.

 

Politicians from Sweden were not allowed to visit former HDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş in the prison in Edirne on Monday (October 5). 

 

The visit came after the mass arrest of HDP members over the 2014 Kobani protests, which mainly took place in the Kurdish-majority regions anc claimed 46 lives. A new investigation has been launched into the incidents.

 

After a meeting with the delegation, HDP Co-Chair Pervin Buldan said that the politicians from Sweden showed solidarity with them against "the illegal and unfair operations" into the party.

 

"The growth of this solidarity in recent years creates great hope for us. Frankly, I would like to express that we get great strength and morale from this solidarity. We are in a period where we need this kind of solidarity," she said.

 

Left Party Chair Sjöstedt said that their visit to Demirtaş was prevented although they had informed the authorities in advance.

 

"What happened yesterday was frustrating for us," he said and added, "I assure you that both I and the progressive powers of the EU will continue to come until he becomes free."

 

"Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ [former HDP co-chair] are the representatives of thousands of political prisoners in Turkey. Therefore, we expect the government of Turkey to urgently implement the European Court of Human Rights decisions.

 

"We know why Selahattin Demirtaş, Figen Yüksekdağ and thousands of political prisoners are in prison. The government fears. This many people being in prison is an indication of their fear and weakness."

 

Sjöstedt further said that they were "concerned" about the situation both inside Turkey and its interventions abroad as other regions may turn into "a second Syria."

 

"In an environment where there are so much aggression and conflict, the HDP is actually the voice of reason, logic and dialogue. Silencing this voice will be a huge loss for Turkey. Not only because the HDP represents six million people but also it is an important actor for Turkey's democracy.

 

"There are two directions for the government: They will either prefer more violent aggression both at home and abroad or conversely, dialogue and peaceful politics."