Politics

Turkey's pro-Kurdish HEDEP changes acronym to ‘DEM’

The change was made following a rejection by Türkiye’s Court of Appeal. Given the similarity between the HDP abbreviation and the banned People's Democracy Party (HADEP), the court disapproved of its use.

Spindar Mohammed 2023/12/11 17:25

The spokesperson for the party, Ayşegül Doğan. (Photo: Kurdistan 24)

Turkey Peoples Equality and Democracy Party HDP Ayşegül Doğan

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Turkey's pro-Kurdish Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party, commonly known as HEDEP, has announced a change to its acronym to the DEM (“Time”) Party.

Notably, the party’s name has remained the same, albeit the new “acronym” bears no actual resemblance to the name.

The change was made following a rejection by Turkey's Court of Appeal. Given the similarity of the HEDEP abbreviation to two outlawed groups, the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) and the banned People's Democracy Party (HADEP), the court disapproved of its use.

The spokesperson for the party, Ayşegül Doğan, announced the new name on Monday at a press conference.

"Our party's essence is the struggle for peace and democracy. It is our resistance, determination, and struggle that will allow us to be written in history,” the spokesperson stated.

Formerly known as the Green Left Party, the party changed its name in its September congress along to the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party.

The party is a spiritual successor to the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), which has been mired in legal action by Turkish authorities, with one of its founders, Selahattin Demirtas, currently behind bars.