Harsh criticism from DEM Party to the government! 'They have taken İmamoğlu hostage!'

DEM Party Co-Chair Tülay Hatimoğulları spoke at the parliamentary group meeting.

Highlights from Tülay Hatimoğulları's speech are as follows:

"Distinguished guests, dear citizens watching us on their screens, our peoples who have been resisting in the streets for days to protect their will, my dear university student friends who raise their objections from campuses to the streets with all their colors, saying we will not surrender to a dark future, the millions who pointed to the path of peace by embracing the 'Call of the Century' in Newroz squares, my fellow laborers who struggle for life with their sweat under inhumane conditions, I greet you all with love.

Dear friends, we have left behind one of the most important Newroz celebrations in the history of the peoples of Turkey. The 2025 Newroz took place at a time when hopes for peace and democracy were blossoming on one hand, and oppression against the people was increasing and the popular will was being disregarded on the other. First of all, I would like to thank the millions who filled the Newroz squares and every one of our citizens/friends who became the voice of peace, democracy, and justice against all kinds of oppression and lawlessness on behalf of the DEM Party once again. The 2025 Newroz was a Newroz where the fire of freedom was stoked once again and peace was embraced by the peoples. Mothers with their white headscarves symbolized peace. Young people became the voice of a democratic and secure life. Women, filling the Newroz squares with their own cultures and colors, shouted for freedom. 'Jin jiyan azadi' echoed as a single voice in all the squares.

While chatting with Leyla Zana and Gültan Kışanak in Diyarbakır, Leyla Zana turned to us and said, 'We were 80 people at the Newroz celebration as we entered the 90s. Now we are millions.' Believe me, our eyes filled with tears. This is what Newroz is. This is determination, this is will. This is struggle. The government needs to draw good lessons from the message of peace, democracy, justice, and freedom given by millions of people in the 2025 Newroz squares. This year, millions said at Newroz, 'I support peace and a solution, I stand behind the historic call.' Do you know what the clearest demand of the millions in the squares was? It was the freedom of Mr. Öcalan and the provision of a free working environment. The demand for peace, where millions of people are of one body, cannot be ignored, cannot be denied, and cannot be sacrificed to a politics of stalling. Whoever closes their ears to the voice of peace rising from the squares will be the big loser. Greetings to the millions in the Newroz square, to the youth, to the women, to the mothers, Newroz piroz be!"

"THEY HAVE TAKEN İMAMOĞLU HOSTAGE"

As the peoples of Turkey, we are going through a historic period. With the arrest of many people, primarily Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mr. Ekrem İmamoğlu and his colleagues, Turkish politics has entered a completely different phase. The government is not seeking law or legitimacy; it is attacking everywhere with the judicial baton in its hand. First, they took İmamoğlu hostage, then they removed the Istanbul Bar Association President Mr. Kaboğlu and his administration from office, and then they detained hundreds of students, young people, and people who were seeking their rights and objecting.

Yesterday, more than ten journalists working for national and international agencies who were following the protests were also detained. Again, many house raids and detentions are taking place, especially in Istanbul, İzmir, Ankara, and Eskişehir. As far as we can follow from the press, very severe violence is being applied to people, there are images of torture in some places, and these are being served with pride. What kind of fear is this, what kind of mental breakdown is this?

"STOP THIS VIOLENCE, THESE ATTACKS"

Stop this violence, these attacks. Identify those who are making these heavy provocations and terminate their duties. We condemn in the strongest terms the political coup carried out against İmamoğlu and the Istanbul Bar Association. So, what does the government say while trying to find a cover for these coups? They say, "Respect the law." Against every word, every demand, they say, "They should seek their rights within the law." Well, I ask: Have you left any law to be respected or sought?

Here, we offer a piece of advice to the government. Without beating around the bush, come out and say that there is no legal situation here. "We are eliminating our political rival, that is why we are rolling loaded dice."

Again, in a similar way, prosecutors label the 'city consensus' as a crime. We have said it many times and we will continue to say it; City Consensus is the will of people, regardless of whether they are Kurdish, Turkish, Armenian, Arab, Sunni, or Alevi, to govern the street, avenue, or neighborhood they are in together. Is it forbidden for the dynamics of the city to reach a consensus, but is it free for them to conflict? By considering this a crime, what kind of Turkey consensus will you achieve?

"SEEING CITY CONSENSUS AS A CRIME IS A REFLECTION OF KURDISH HOSTILITY"

Seeing the city consensus as a crime is, frankly, a reflection of Kurdish hostility. We also never accept the lynching of Azad Barış, who has previously served as Deputy Co-Chair in our party, is known for his identity and work, and is extremely well-known for conducting research for many parties and organizations. We know the lynching and character assassination carried out in the person of our friend Azad from the cult conspiracies and the 'andıç' (blacklists).

I am addressing the anti-solution prosecutors here; you won't get anywhere with this. City consensus is a great democratic practice, a mindset. You cannot distort this mindset by attributing it to individuals.

There is only one thing we can say to those who discriminate. Decades ago, we said, 'Kurds exist, the Kurdish language exists.' You said, 'They don't.' We struggled, we resisted, we paid the price, and finally, we made you accept it. Now we say, 'Kurds will also be involved in the administration of the cities they live in.' You are doing the same thing you have been doing for decades.

Against your divisive, polarizing language, our will to live together will win. We will definitely win, we will definitely get rid of these discriminatory understandings that produce evil. History will write the victory of those who demand their rights, those who carry out the struggle for peace, and those who speak of democracy. The will of the people cannot be taken hostage, period."

News Source: 12punto