HDP warned about assassination plots
ANKARA (DİHA) - The Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) has received a number of reports of planned assassinations against its co-chair, Selahattin Demirtas, HDP Istanbul deputy Sırrı Süreyya Önder said.
"We have been warned about extensive assassination plots against Demirtaş from serious sources in Turkey. However, we continue to work and have overcome our worries by being more careful,” said Önder told Voice of America Radio in a recent interview.
He said they were not taking additional precautions to avert potential attacks as it “does not comply with the party’s perspective.”
On May 18, two bombs hit HDP’s headquarters in southern Turkish cities of Adana and Mersin wounding a number of party members.
“We think it does not fit our revolutionary perspective to multiply the amount of people around you or put security walls between you and the public. When we surround ourselves with security walls we distance ourselves from the public. For us, death is more commendable than putting barriers between us and the public,” said Önder.
The HDP Istanbul deputy is currently conducting his election campaign in Ankara without any police protection and only with a private car, along with two other people, similar to the way Demirtaş is campaigning.
IHD (Human Rights Association) has released a report regarding the attacks against political parties during this year's election campaign between 23 March and 19 May. According to the IHD report, attacks on political parties have reached the peak during the last two months.
126 attacks were conducted against HDP during its election campaign, 32 members of which were also subject to torture and ill treatment.
(nt)
