As a continuation of the systematic repression against the Peoples’ Democratic Party / HDP (arrests, lifting the immunity of deputies, seizure of municipalities and the closure case), the main Kobani trial will begin on April 26.
The Kobani Trial of 108 people, including the arrested former Co-Chairs Figen Yüksekdag and Selahattin Demirtas, will be held on April 26 in Ankara. HDP has already sent the ‘Invitation to Observe the Kobani Case‘ written by Co-chairs to all MEPs, MPs and political parties.
Due to Covid-19 measures and other circumstances, there are many friends and deputies who will not be able to attend the trial. HDP has been asked by many of their friends ‘what might be done alternatively?’. Following these discussions, the idea of organizing actions in solidarity with the HDP and Kobani resistance to be carried out on the day of the trial (April 26) popped up.
In this context, the Bureau of the Kurdish Friendship Group (KFG) in the European Parliament: François Alfonsi (Greens/EFA), Andreas Schieder (S&D), Nikolaj Villumsen (GUE/NGL) and leaders of the European Political Parties, such as Heinz Bierbaum (President of the Party of the European Left) Evelyne Huytebroeck and Thomas Waitz (Co-chairs of the European Green Party), Lorena Lopez de Lacalle (President of the European Free Alliance) and Sergei Stanishev (leader of the PES – Party of European Socialists) have prepared a declaration (see attachment below).
We join this valuable call of the KFG and leaders of the European Political Parties would be very pleased, if all political parties, members of parliament, and civil organizations who cannot attend the Kobani trial in Ankara to organize a catchy action in solidarity with the HDP from 11 am (CET), on April 26.
To facilitate your actions, we are sending you the following pictures of our arrested deputies and co-mayors who will be tried. You can find those photos in the following link.
Please share your actions with the HDP by using the following hashtags #SolidarityWithHDP & #DefendKobani via their Twitter (@Hdp_europe) or email address. They will make sure that these actions are featured in the media.
