HDP co-chair slams decision to expropriate Sur

ANKARA

DHA photo

A recent government decision to expropriate parts of the Sur district in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır has been criticized by Figen Yüksekdağ, co-chair of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP).

Under the government decree, nearly 90 percent of the Sur district was expropriated, said Yüksekdağ in her speech at the HDP’s parliamentary group meeting on March 29. She added the locals of the district had not been informed about the decision.

The HDP co-chair said the areas and buildings belonging to the municipality were among the areas which were decided to be expropriated and seized. “Where is the law, right and justice in this?” Yüksekdağ asked.

Speaking about the Nevruz festivities which took place two weeks ago, Yüksekdağ argued the celebrations were held in an environment of intense pressure and bans, arguing that 635 people were detained during Nevruz and 174 people had been arrested in a week. Yüksekdağ also criticized the curfews in place in some southeastern provinces. 

“They want to destroy the living spaces and houses of the people who survived death and the massacres in those places, in Sur, in Silopi [in in the southeastern province of Şırnak] today,” said Yüksekdağ.