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Turkish forces stop pro-Kurdish MPs on protest march to Cizre Turkish forces stop pro-Kurdish MPs on protest march to Cizre
(35 minutes later)
Pro-Kurdish politicians, including cabinet ministers, attempting to march to Cizre in south-east Turkey to protest against a week-long curfew in the town say they have been blocked by security forces.Pro-Kurdish politicians, including cabinet ministers, attempting to march to Cizre in south-east Turkey to protest against a week-long curfew in the town say they have been blocked by security forces.
The pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic party (HDP) and its leader, Selhattin Demirtas, started a 55-mile march towards Cizre on Wednesday after security forces halted a previous attempt to reach the town by convoy. The leader of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic party (HDP), Selhattin Demirtaş, and other members of the organisation, started a 55-mile march towards Cizre on Wednesday after security forces halted a previous attempt to reach the town by convoy.
On Thursday they started a sit-down protest on a hillside near the border with Syria and Iraq after their path was blocked by soldiers with riot shields, party officials said. On Thursday they staged a sit-down protest on a hillside near the border with Syria and Iraq after soldiers with riot shields blocked their path, party officials said.
Related: Kurdish civilians hit by snipers as Turkey cracks down on militants
There has been a surge in violence between Kurdistan Workers party (PKK) militants and Turkish security forces since a ceasefire collapsed in July, shattering a peace process launched in 2012.There has been a surge in violence between Kurdistan Workers party (PKK) militants and Turkish security forces since a ceasefire collapsed in July, shattering a peace process launched in 2012.
The HDP and Demirtas have accused the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and the ruling AK party of whipping up nationalist sentiment before a November election, while enforcing a security crackdown in the mainly Kurdish south-east. Demirtaş and the HDP have accused the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and the ruling AK party of whipping up nationalist sentiment before elections in November, while enforcing a security crackdown in the mainly Kurdish south-east.
Related: Kurdish civilians hit by snipers as Turkey cracks down on militants
HDP offices have been targeted and some set ablaze in a series of attacks across the country by nationalist crowds this week.HDP offices have been targeted and some set ablaze in a series of attacks across the country by nationalist crowds this week.
Cizre has been under curfew since last week due to fighting with PKK militants. HDP politicians say they want to bring attention to what they describe as dire security and health conditions in the town. Cizre has been under curfew since last week because of fighting with PKK militants. HDP politicians say they want to bring attention to what they describe as dire security and health conditions in the town.
“The government should not be allowed to get away with what is being done today in Cizre,” Demirtas said in a telephone interview broadcast by IMC TV, promising to “carry Cizre’s voice to the world”. “The government should not be allowed to get away with what is being done today in Cizre,” Demirtaş said in a telephone interview broadcast by IMC TV, promising to “carry Cizre’s voice to the world”.
He was accompanied by Turkey’s European Union minister, Ali Haydar Konca, and development minister, Muslum Dogan, both from the HDP, and members of an interim cabinet steering the country towards a snap parliamentary election on 1 November. He was accompanied by Turkey’s EU minister, Ali Haydar Konca, and development minister, Müslüm Doğan, both from the HDP, and members of an interim cabinet steering the country towards a snap parliamentary election on 1 November.
Prosecutors in Diyarbakir, the region’s largest city, launched investigations into Demirtas on Wednesday on charges of terrorist propaganda, inciting crime and insulting the Turkish state and president. A request was made to lift the immunity from prosecution which Demirtas has as an MP, prosecutors said. Prosecutors in Diyarbakır, the region’s largest city, launched investigations into Demirtaş on Wednesday on charges of terrorist propaganda, inciting crime and insulting the Turkish state and president. A request was made to lift the immunity from prosecution he has as an MP, they said.
Erdogan has also stepped up the pressure on HDP, repeating accusations that the party was linked to the PKK, which is designated a terrorist group by Turkey, the European Union and United States. Erdoğan has also stepped up the pressure on the HDP, repeating accusations that the party was linked to the PKK, which Turkey, the EU and US designate a terrorist group.
“If you take the side of terror you will run the risk of paying the price for that,” he told a news conference. “This political movement has begun to present a completely illegal appearance.”“If you take the side of terror you will run the risk of paying the price for that,” he told a news conference. “This political movement has begun to present a completely illegal appearance.”
Turkish courts have in the past closed down pro-Kurdish parties on charges of links to the PKK.Turkish courts have in the past closed down pro-Kurdish parties on charges of links to the PKK.
Responding to the investigations and Erdogan’s comments, Demirtas said the legal investigation was politically motivated and thousands of similar investigations had been launched in the past against pro-Kurdish politicians. Demirtaş said the legal investigation was politically motivated and that thousands of similar inquiries had been launched against pro-Kurdish politicians in the past.
“This is part of the campaign to undermine the HDP on the order of the president,” he said. “Like the president says, we are ready to pay the price. Our lives are not more valuable than the freedom struggle of our people.”“This is part of the campaign to undermine the HDP on the order of the president,” he said. “Like the president says, we are ready to pay the price. Our lives are not more valuable than the freedom struggle of our people.”