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Katja Kipping, Bernd Riexinger

Abolishment of Democracy in Turkey Quickly Progresses with Arrest of HDP Co-Chairs

Tonight Turkish security forces arrested both co-chairs of HDP, Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ, together with nine other members of parliament of HDP. An HDP press conference supposed to address the arrests in their headquarters in Ankara was prohibited by the police. Already in May, the immunity of many HDP parliamentarians was lifted on demand of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. On this, Katja Kipping and Bernd Riexinger, Co-Chairs of DIE LINKE declare:

The abolishment of democracy in Turkey is proceeding rapidly with the arrest of both HDP Co-Chairs and Europe standing idly by.

Severe compulsory measures against the democratically authorised opposition and the freedom of press as well as massive purges in public facilities may no longer be tolerated.

What else has Erdoğan to do until the German government and the European Union realize that for democracies there is no valid contract of transaction with the Erdoğan regime?

It is high time for the German chancellor to end her tacit complicity with the Turkish government and finally take action: DIE LINKE demands the immediate withdrawal of the Bundeswehr and a ban on all weapons deliveries to Turkey. The EU immediately has to stop the accession talks and to recall the EU-Turkey Refugee Deal.

We explicitly declare our solidarity with the comrades of HDP and DBP! We call for the release of all political prisoners, journalists, academics and for an end of violence in the Kurdish regions!

We call to take part in the solidarity meeting today in front of the Brandenburg Gate and in local solidarity and protest Actions.