News Center- Turkish Constitutional Court (Turkish: Anayasa Mahkemesi-AYM) has blocked Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) bank accounts holding Treasury aid upon the request of the Chief Prosecutor's Office of Turkish Supreme Court of Appeals. While this decision sparks anger, the people think that the policy carried out against a party having millions of voters will not achieve its purpose. HDP Law and Human Rights Commission's Co-spokesperson Nuray Özdoğan recalled that their party achieved a great success in the elections held on June 7, 2015 without treasury aid.

‘HDP draws its strength from the people’

Emphasizing that the decision of the blockade aims to ignore the will of the Kurdish voters and prevent their political participation, Nuray Özdoğan stressed that the main issue for them in this process is not the blockade on the treasury aid, but the increasing policies of oppression and violence. “First, we should say that the aim of the Treasury Law is to ensure equality among political parties, which are considered an indispensable element of democratic life, in order to continue their political activities without seeking other sources and funds. When we look at the political parties in Turkiye, the most important difference of the HDP is that it always draws its strength from the labor, work and will of the people. The HDP is totally different from the structures that provide illegitimate benefits to themselves.”

‘The decision is not a legal but political decision’

‘The ruling party and its partners dream of an election without the HDP,’ Nuray Özdoğan said, “The HDP closure case, the Kobanê Case and the wave of arrests against HDP members show this. The blockade decision of treasury aid against the HDP by the Turkish Constitutional Court is not a legal but political decision; it is a continuation of the purge policy carried out against the HDP. Despite all the pressures and all forms of violence, the HDP is determined to do politics. Despite facing violence, the HDP does not lose its power and this power of the HDP disturbs the ruling party. For this reason, the HDP has faced the closure case. Now, they try to make the HDP take a step back from its struggle for democracy and peace by blocking the HDP’s treasury financial aid. The ruling party does not understand that violence and financial barriers cannot break the will of people and end the struggle of people.”

‘The will of our voters determines our politics’

Noting that this decision will not prevent the HDP from doing politics, Nuray Özdoğan recalled that the HDP achieved a great success in the elections held on June 7, 2015 without treasury aid. The decision on the treasury aid and the closure case cannot determine our election campaign and our politics; the will of our voters determines our election campaign and our politics. Our party achieved great success in the elections held on June 7, 2015. And the results of these elections showed how people are determined to demand peace. Due to our success in the 2015 elections, our party has been subjected to attacks and arrests since 2016. Those who want to have a peaceful and democratic life should wage a common struggle along with our party against this political and judicial violence.”