Nevruz celebrated in Istanbul Kazlıçeşme

ISTANBUL – Doğan News Agency

BDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş criticized the Turkish government’s decision to block Twitter in the rally at Kazlıçeşme arena. DHA photo

Thousands celebrated Nevruz, the first day of spring, in Istanbul’s Kazlıçeşme arena March 23 in a rally organized by the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) and the People’s Democratic Party (HDP).

BDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş criticized the Turkish government’s decision to block Twitter in the rally at Kazlıçeşme March 23.

“They [the government] are trying many ways to cover up corruption. They put pressure on the media, judiciary and social media. They say ‘we will eradicate Twitter, mwitter. We will prevent people from learning about [the corruption claims].’ I have a suggestion for Mr. prime minister: If you want to block things that anger you, then block Bilal [Erdoğan, the prime minister’s son]. But you cannot cover up the truth … You have to apologize to people,” said Demirtaş referring to the recently leaked voice recording allegedly between Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his son Bilal Erdoğan.

 Sırrı Süreyya Önder, the HDP’s candidate for the Istanbul municipal post, also criticized the government over the corruption allegations during his address in the Kazlıçeşme rally.