SULAIMANI, Kurdistan Region – At least 5,000 members of Kurdish and pro-Kurdish parties in Turkey have been arrested, said a Kurdish politician from Turkey, who called on the Kurdistan Region for help. Osman Baydemir, HDPs deputy for Urfa, visited the Kurdistan Region to relate the situation of Kurds in Turkey, where he said at least 5,000 members of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) and Democratic Society Party (DTP) have been arrested. He spoke at the Social Democratic Parties of the World forum in Sulaimani. “Our co-chair, currently in prison for more than 36 days, is kept in isolation,” he said, referring to imprisoned HDP co-leader Selahattin Demirtaş. “He is in one room and has not seen any of his inmate friends so far. Still he cannot send a written letter out of the prison, and he cannot receive ours, either.” “In fact we have some fears for his health and safety in prison,” Baydemir added. He described the charismatic Demirtaş as “the voice for freedom that is in Prison, it is the voice for peace that is in prison.” Baydemir made an emotional plea to the people and officials of the Kurdistan Region, also known as southern Kurdistan, saying that the Kurds of Turkey, or northern Kurdistan, are looking to them for help at a time when Kurdish voices need to be stronger and louder than ever. “They are looking to southern Kurdistan with their ears, their heart, and their eyes. These are difficult days for the people of Northern Kurdistan. In these difficult days, we frankly want hear the voice of our brothers, and we hope that they extend their hands to us.” The Kurdistan Region enjoys good relations with Turkey and is dependent on shipping its oil through its northern neighbour to international markets via Turkey’s Ceyhan port. Baydemir warned that while Ankara is first focused on suppressing Kurds in Turkey, it will also set its sights on Kurds in Rojava, northern Syria, and then the Kurdistan Region. He said it is like the three meals of the day: Turkey wants to eat Turkish Kurdistan for breakfast, Rojava for lunch, and the Kurdistan Region for dinner.
