President Erdoğan condemns attacks on HDP premises

ANKARA

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said he disapproves any attacks on premises of political parties and condemned the perpetrators, after the hundreds of bureaus of the Kurdish problem-focused Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) were stormed across Turkey following recent deadly terrorist acts. 

“I certainly disapprove the attacks on political party buildings and I condemn the perpetrators. No matter which political party or non-governmental organization it is, attacking their members is wrong. No doubt a judicial process will be implemented after these attacks,” Erdoğan said at a press conference with the visiting president of the European Union Council, Donald Tusk, late on Sept 9. 

His statement came after two nights of violence targeting HDP offices across Turkey. On the night of Sept. 8, the HDP’s Ankara HQ was attacked by a large group attempting to burn the entire building down. The party’s archives were burned in the incident, which HDP officials blamed on the government. 

President Erdoğan also repeated his strong criticism of the leaders of the HDP for alleged links with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and repeated claims that a HDP lawmaker was caught transporting weapons to the terrorist group. 

“There are some who even carry weapons in coffins,” he said. “I call once again on this party that has difficulty in putting a distance between itself and terror: Make you choice. Are you on the side of democracy or terror? Are you going to continue your struggle through politics or weapons, violence, terror and blood?”

Erdoğan said he would “certainly support” those who choose a political struggle, although he won’t endorse their political views. “But if you side with terror you must be ready to pay the price,” he added.