PM Barzani calls on Turkey to free HDP Co-chairs, MPs
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – The Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region on Saturday asked Turkey to free the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Co-chairs and members of parliament.
In a statement, PM Nechirvan Barzani said the arrests of the HDP Co-chairs and MPs were of concern and would deepen the current situation in Turkey.
He called on Ankara to free the HDP leaders and MPs, and deal peacefully with the situation as well as respect the votes of people who elected the parliament members.
The PM urged all parties in Turkey to seek a peaceful solution, which he believes is in the interest of everyone.
Turkish anti-terror police units on Friday detained 12 HDP lawmakers, including its Co-chairs Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag.
The PM also asked the HDP to respect the laws of Turkey and behave within the framework of the legislation.
Turkish prosecutors are accusing the Kurdish lawmakers of various crimes, among them:
“Publicly insulting the Republic of Turkey, the Turkish nation, the Grand National Assembly, the President, the military and the police of the state, inciting people to hatred and hostility, inciting the public not to obey the laws, attempting to damage the unity and wholeness of the state, aiding and abetting a terror group, disseminating propaganda for the PKK [Kurdistan Workers’ Party], and sending weapons to the Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG).”
On Friday, the Presidency of the Kurdistan Region, along with the Kurdish parties in the Region, expressed concern over the HDP members and Co-chairs arrests.
They hoped Turkey would solve the conflict by freeing the members along with other political prisoners.
PM AND PRESIDENT CONDEMNED EXPLOSION IN DIYARBAKIR:
Both the PM and President Masoud Barzani condemned the car bomb attack in the district of Baglar in Diyarbakir that resulted in a high number of casualties.
A car bomb on Friday, which killed eight and injured over 40 people, was claimed by the Islamic State.
Editing by Karzan Sulaivany
(Ari Khalidi contributed to this report)