Pro-Kurdish HDP comes out in support of Catalonia

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – In the latest demonstration of solidarity between the two stateless peoples, Kurds and Catalans, the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) in Turkey on Friday announced its full backing for the autonomous region of Catalonia and their plan to hold a referendum on independence from Spain.

"We support the Catalan people's right to self-determination. The prevention by force of the expression of the people’s will is never acceptable. The constitutional rights of the Autonomous Region of Catalonia cannot be suspended on the pretext of preventing the referendum," the pro-Kurdish party said.

A press release on the HDP website said measures taken by the Madrid government to disrupt the October 1 ballot were putting people’s universal right to vote and make a choice at risk.

It stated that Spanish authorities in recent weeks launched investigations to prosecute 712 mayors who supported the referendum and police raids of printing houses to seize ballot envelopes, boxes, and brochures that were to be used in the poll.

"Newspaper headquarters were also raided and prevented from publishing news about the referendum, and their internet sites were shut down," the release in multiple languages, including Spanish, read.

"As if the confiscation of the constitutional share of the budget for the Catalan Region by Madrid was not enough, the Spanish gendarmerie, in accordance with the instructions from Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy stormed the buildings of the Government of Catalonia and detained 14 public officials," HDP reminded.

The HDP, itself under a now year-long massive crackdown by the Turkish government that has seen its Co-leader Selahattin Demirtas along with ten other lawmakers and thousands of members jailed, urged Rajoy to respect the Catalan people’s right to vote and to end the "oppression" on their representatives.

Catalan officials and HDP have also come in support of the Kurdistan Region's Monday referendum on independence from Iraq, the latter's move robustly deemed "illegal" by both governments in Madrid and Ankara.

Editing by G.H. Renaud