Anderson slams Turkish oppression of Kurds

Sinn Féin MEP Martina Anderson has slammed the Turkish government’s latest attack on democracy and the rights of Kurdish people.

Martina Anderson said:

“It is outrageous that the Turkish government has undemocratically replaced three elected mayors in the predominantly Kurdish cities of Diyarbakir, Mardin and Van.

“It is a cyclical move to maintain the government’s regressive control over the Kurdish South East region of Turkey.

“The removal of these mayors is just the latest attack on the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) while over 50 representatives – including leader Selahattin Demirtaş - remain behind bars.

“I have visited jailed HDP MPs and seen first hand the state oppression they face in their struggle for equality and their right to political representation.

“The EU, who provide funding to Turkey, must end its silence on Turkish state oppression against the Kurdish people and their democratically elected representatives.”