HDP, Demirtas condemn attack on police facility

HDP, Demirtas condemn attack on police facility
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Update: 27 September 2022 20:52
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Both Peoples’ Democratic Party and its imprisoned former leader Selahattin Demirtas demanded an investigation to clarify the attack that killed a police officer in Southern Turkey

Imprisoned Kurdish leader Selahattin Demirtas and his party HDP (Peoples’ Democratic Party) condemned an attack that killed a police officer and wounded another in an accommodation facility used by the police in Turkey’s southern city of Mersin. 

"I condemn the armed attack in Mersin. The political responsibility is to insist on non-violent solutions, to stop deaths. We will oppose all forms of violence, we will insist on democratic politics. I want everyone to know this clearly," Demirtas said on Twitter. 

HDP also released a written statement signed by Co-Chairs Mithat Sancar and Pervin Buldan condemning the attack. 

“We cannot remain silent against those who intend to use a new wave of violence and provocations ahead of elections," the statement said, adding that HDP wanted an immediate clarification about the shady points in the investigation. 

HDP’s statement drew attention to 2015 when the violence peaked during the run-up to November elections and hundreds of people were killed in sucide bombings and armed attacks. 

Earlier, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu blamed the PKK (Kurdistan Workers Party) for the attack, claiming the police managed to identify one of the assailants as a member of the organization, which is deemed as terrorist by Turkey as well as the EU and the US. The PKK did not assume the attack.

President Tayyip Erdogan blamed the HDP once again for having ties with the PKK, along with CHP (People’s Republican Party,) journalists and western countries. 

"No matter which terrorist you follow, you end up reaching the HDP, the CHP, journalists, politicians, NGO representatives, or Western countries,” he said.