Pressure, detention and arrest, which are implemented against DTP (Democratic Society Party) during last few days, harm atmosphere of democracy and human rights and cause new social tensions as well.
If we look at some of the recent practices against DTP, we can make a list as the following; sentences against Co-Presidents of the Party, arrests of provincial (Van, Diyarbakır, Batman, and Mardin) chairmen, detention of many party members in Istanbul, raids to party buildings and arrests of 31 women who detained in Cizre. There are old women among these 31 women.
All of these practices show that there is “censorship and security mentality” towards to the DTP despite any kind of expressions and practices. Moreover; the mentality turned into a general repression on the party through implementations such as “detentions and arrests”, should rarely be implemented, on all occasions. Indeed; there are fresh news, almost everyday, about detained or arrested people that members of DTP or other democratic institutions. Many houses of students, who attend Dicle University in Diyarkabır, were raided by police. Consequently; many students were detained and arrested.
Basis of these practices, which are against democratic principles and human rights, is showed as “security”. Actually, just these practices cause a serious tension. Limiting freedoms to provide security is one of the most faulty methods that used by authoritarian regimes. Continuation of such practices in Turkey, whose claim is becoming democratic day by day, indicates that there is insufficient human rights mentality and freedoms are still considered as danger.
Political authority or the Government is, naturally, responsible for any kind of human rights violation. Therefore; as Human Rights Association (IHD) we invite the Government to act against these repressions, to defend democratic rights/freedoms, to prevent practices that exclude/alienate one political party and its supporters.
HUMAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION