HDP in the USA

01/08/2019

‘Erdogan is one of the biggest threats to peace in the Middle East – the US needs to realise this’

Our representative Giran Ozcan writes for The Independent: "Erdogan maintains that his fight in Syria is not with the Kurdish people, but with “terrorism” – a claim Kurds in Turkey know all too well. The AKP government’s war on terror has always been a war on democratic Kurdish political participation, leaving dozens of elected officials jailed, thousands of voters disenfranchised, and millions of men, women, and children afraid to speak their first language in public for fear of violence. In the meantime, that same government has turned a blind eye to terror groups that threaten Turkey, Syria, and the world.

My party, the HDP, has faced this double standard first hand. Ten of our elected members of parliament, including former HDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş, are currently jailed on fabricated charges, accused of terrorism for statements supporting peace negotiations between Turkey and the PKK that took place between 2013 and 2015. The most devastating ISIS attack in Turkish history targeted a 2015 peace rally that we took part in organising. That tragedy took place a year before Turkish forces officially intervened against ISIS in al-Bab and Jarablus, when Islamist fighters still used the country as a “rear base” for their operations against the Syrian regime."

As long as Turkey is at war with the PKK, that war will not be confined to Turkey’s borders. It is a situation that threatens the stability and security of US partners and allies in Syria and Iraq

01/03/2019

Today, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the U.S. should ensure that the Syrian Kurds are protected from a potential invasion. Secretary Pompeo must understand that the AKP government‘s only reason to intervene in northeast Syria is to attack the Kurds, and other peoples of the region, who fought ISIS and built a peaceful society together— in order to win votes in this spring’s local election. If he means what he says, we encourage him and his colleagues to invest in democracy and locally-driven, sustainable peace— in both Syria and Turkey.

01/02/2019

Leyla Güven, our MP for Hakkari, has been on hunger strike in Diyarbakir prison for 56 days. Demonstrators who supported her have been harassed and detained. Police have demanded that posters of her be taken down from public spaces.
The policies that she is willing to risk her life to protest remain in place, and the international media is silent.
Her case shows the true face of the AKP government, and the extent to which it prefers war and repression to the possibility of peace. All people and institutions who support democracy, human rights, and peace in Turkey and Kurdistan must speak up for her.

01/01/2019

The United States Can’t Rely on Turkey to Defeat ISIS

Foreign Policy with a warning for US policymakers: The AKP government “has often demonstrated a reluctance to take on the Islamic State directly, preferring instead to focus its energy and resources on countering the Kurds and Erdogan’s opposition.”

Erdogan wants to confront the Kurds, not the Islamic State. Outsourcing the battle to Ankara will endanger America.

12/31/2018

We wish you and your loved ones a happy New Year, and send you the best wishes for 2019.

2018 was a year of great struggle and great resistance for us. Despite the continued detention of several of our MPs, dozens of our mayors, and thousands of our supporters, the HDP reached the threshold and gained its seats in parliament. We stood against the AKP government's attacks on the Kurdish people inside and outside of its borders, an electoral strategy that has cost thousands of lives and prolonged our region's devastating wars. The HDP continues to call for peace, democracy, and freedom in Kurdistan, Turkey, and the whole region— though such calls have been criminalized.

In the United States, we engaged with our community and supporters across the country to listen to your ideas, build solidarity, and strengthen the HDP's presence here. We met regularly with Congress and the State Department to advocate for our vision and share our views on U.S. policy.

In 2019, we promise to maintain and further all dimensions of our work for freedom, democracy, and human rights. We hope that the coming year will bring peace to our country, the Middle East, and the world.

https://hdp-usa.com/home/f/happy-new-year-from-hdp-in-the-usa

12/28/2018

No politician should be prosecuted for the work they do to serve their people— but several HDP MPs have faced unjust arrests after their parliamentary immunity was lifted. This is yet another attack on minorities, dissidents, and and democratic opposition in Turkey.

ALERT: Setting the stage for Garo Paylan - Կարօ Փայլան's arrest, Turkey's Recep Erdogan has moved to lift his parliamentary immunity.

Stay tuned for any breaking developments, and remain ready to call upon your U.S. legislators to sanction Turkey over any actions against this courageous ethnic Armenian Halkların Demokratik Partisi – HDP legislator.

12/22/2018

HDP US Representative: "Kurds are facing very hostile forces"

Our representative to the United States spoke with CBC radio about the current situation in Syria, possibilities for the Syrian Kurds, and the role of outside powers like the US, Turkey, and Russia. Read a transcript of the interview here.

HDP US Representative Giran Ozcan spoke with CBC Radio's As It Happens program on Thursday, discussing the U.S. withdrawal from Syria, its implications for the Syrian Kurds, and the role of other outside powers like Russ...

12/21/2018

HDP US Representative on the US withdrawal from Syria

Our representative to the United States, Mr. Giran Ozcan, spoke with Al Jazeera English about the US withdrawal from Syria and the options for Syrian Kurds.

12/14/2018

As local elections in Turkey loom, reckless war-mongering begins

Attacking innocent civilians is no way to campaign for an election. Our co-chairs Pervin Buldan and Sezai Temelli speak out against the AKP government's latest destabilizing threats:

"While the people of the region continue to suffer from this destruction, Erdoğan's latest statement, which can only be perceived as the announcement of a new assault, is unacceptable from humanitarian, legal and political perspectives.

Erdoğan is not targeting ISIS or its gangs, but the Kurdish and Arab peoples and their allies who have been fighting against the barbarity of ISIS for years.

This destructive and aggressive attitude, repeated before each election, will only lead to new conflicts and crises...The warmongering that Erdoğan aims to use for his local election campaign will lead to grave and irreparable consequences, and deeply hurt the intended target of regional peace."

Press statement by our Co-Chairs Pervin Buldan and Sezai Temelli. | Peoples' Democratic Party

12/12/2018

solidarity!

Want to take action in solidarity with imprisoned HDP MPs?
Here's four ways to do just that.

hdp-usa.com/political-prisoners

12/11/2018

EP Turkey Rapporteur: "Selahattin, em bi te re ne!"

European Parliament Turkey Rapporteur Kati Piri gives a speech in support of Selahattin Demirtas and the HDP. Who will be the first member of the US Congress speak out against attacks on Kurdish political participation and democracy in Turkey like this?

12/08/2018

Our former co-chair Selahattin Demirtas wrote a letter to the French newspaper Le Monde calling for support and solidarity as he awaits his next trial. Read an excerpt here: https://hdp-usa.com/f/demirta%C5%9F-today-its-my-turn-to-ask-for-support-and-solidarity

12/06/2018

Our former MP Sirri Sureyya Önder went to prison today. He said of the HDP’s current situation: “Although everything may seem gloomy now, good days are in fact coming to our country. Our tradition is full of countless examples of beating the odds.”
This crackdown on our party is intended to destroy any and all opposition to Erdogan’s authoritarian rule. The ongoing resistance of all our elected officials and supporters targeted by the state shows that, even facing the steepest odds, peace and democracy can never be destroyed.
https://www.hdp.org.tr/en/english/news/news-from-hdp/sirri-sureyya-onder-good-days-are-ahead/12662

12/01/2018

November Update

Did you miss our newsletter this morning? Read about our work for the month of November here, and sign up to receive further updates.

Throughout the month of November, our office maintained its regular contact with various desks at the US State Department, while engaging with think tanks and their Turkey experts in DC.

11/29/2018

Against the ECHR judgment, the AKP has accelerated its pursuit for a move to ‘finish the job’

After the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Turkey must free our co-chair Selahattin Demirtas, the Turkish courts have accelerated the processing of his case in order to work around the ruling. Read his statement on this "clear political intervention."

"Can they do this? Of course they can. But that does not mean that they can break our will, or deter us from our struggle. Any member of the judiciary who becomes, or will become a part of a political operation of this nature, shall also become part of an open and serious crime. And there is no doubt that one day they will be held accountable before a just court of law. As this crime would also be within the scope of crimes committed against humanity as stated in Article 77/d of the Turkish Penal Code, I would also like to remind them that there will be no statute of limitation. No one should place their trust in politicians and become party to such crimes.

I would also like to make it clear that we are not legally powerless against any ruling that will uphold our sentence in the case I mentioned above. However, in any event, our most meaningful and valuable “move” is what the will of the people can and will do. Our people will call them to account at the ballot box, and by using all democratic means. And everyone should rest assured that much graver violation verdicts will be ruled for in the future regarding what has been done to us, and what will be done to us.

We will never bow down, and we will stand tall with determination, our spirits high. We will, soon or later, emerge victorious in our struggle for law, justice, freedom and democracy."

Statement by our former Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş. | Peoples' Democratic Party

11/26/2018

Kurdish Policy Research Center - KPRC

Don’t forget to join Kurdish Policy Research Center - KPRC for this panel today at 1 PM!

[TOMORROW] Please join us at our panel discussion with Mr. Ismail Beşikçi entitled "The Anti-Kurdish Paradigm: From Sykes-Picot to the September 2017 Referendum in Iraqi Kurdistan" on November 26, 2018 at The National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

Please RSVP here: https://www.kprc.us/ismail-be

Mr. Beşikçi is a renowned sociologist, Kurdologist, PEN Honorary Member and former Nobel Peace Prize candidate who caught the attention of international politics with his work on the Kurdish Question and the continuing struggle of Kurds including their right to self-determination in the age of nation-states.

Mr. Ismail Beşikçi will discuss the Kurdish struggle for independence from Sykes-Picot to the recent Independence Referendum held in Iraqi Kurdistan in September 2017 and the reasons behind the lack of support from the international community.

11/25/2018

Today, November 25th, we commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

The current regime in Turkey attacks the rights of women and views them as inherently unequal. Its authoritarianism gives men license to behave like authoritarians in their private lives, threatening women’s safety. At least 329 women were killed by men in the first 10 months of 2018. Within the first 8 months, 870 women were abused and 342 were r***d.

The repression of women goes hand in hand with the repression of minorities and dissidents. Hundreds of Kurdish women— including some of our women officials— are jailed on terror charges simply for demanding their rights, many along with their young children. Women who protest for justice for their disappeared and murdered relatives are regularly attacked by police.

In the face of this oppression, women continue to resist. The HDP is a women’s party, and we as HDP USA stand with all women in Turkey, Kurdistan, the Middle East and the world as they struggle for equality and for liberation from male and state violence.

https://hdp-usa.com/home/f/hdp-usa-stands-for-womens-rights-in-turkey-and-worldwide

11/24/2018

Kurdish Policy Research Center - KPRC

Kurdish Policy Research Center - KPRC

Please join us at our panel discussion with Mr. Ismail Beşikçi, entitled "The Anti-Kurdish Paradigm: From Sykes-Picot to the September 2017 Referendum in Iraqi Kurdistan" On Monday, November 26 at The National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

RSVP at https://www.kprc.us/ismail-be

11/23/2018

We have had a wonderful time meeting with our community in San Francisco and hearing their ideas and concerns.

11/21/2018

ECHR: Turkey must free Demirtaş

This morning, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Turkey must immediately take steps to free Selahattin Demirtaş, our former co-chair. The court found that his rights had been violated over the course of his two-year-long pre-trial detention, and called on Turkey to release him as soon as possible.

His case is emblematic of Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s authoritarian turn, and of the repression that Kurdish politicians in Turkey have always faced. According to the judgement, “it [has] been established beyond reasonable doubt that the extensions of Mr Demirtaş’s detention, especially during two crucial campaigns, namely the referendum and the presidential election, had pursued the predominant ulterior purpose of stifling pluralism and limiting freedom of political debate, which was at the very core of the concept of a democratic society.”

We urge Turkey to take all action necessary in order to comply with the ruling, and we continue to call for the freedom of all our imprisoned MPs and officials. As the HDP mission to the United States, we will continue to raise the issue of our political prisoners and the repression we face with key stakeholders across the U.S. government.

This morning, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Turkey must immediately take steps to free Selahattin Demirtaş, our former co-chair. The court found that his rights had been violated over the course of his tw...

11/19/2018

Meeting with our community in Los Angeles, California.

11/14/2018

Kurdish Policy Research Center - KPRC

The Kurdish Policy Research Center - KPRC conference has begun! Our representative Giran Ozcan is speaking on this first panel. Watch here and follow us on Twitter at for highlights.

The conference aims at bringing together leading academics, journalists, commentators, politicians and policy makers to offer their perspectives on the fast-evolving situation in the Post-ISIL Middle East and the rise of Iran as the new superpower in the context of Kurds rise to political and military significance.

11/13/2018

kprc | 11/14/18 Third Annual Conf

Our representative, Mr. Giran Ozcan, will discuss the geopolitical implications of Turkey’s policies towards the crisis in the Middle East on the first panel at the KPRC Third Annual Conference tomorrow. RSVP and take a look at the other speakers here!

11/14/18 Third Annual Conf

11/09/2018

US Move Against PKK Trio Seen Snarling Peace

With comment from our USA Representative Giran Ozcan

Washington offers reward for some Kurdish leaders, gives support to others

11/07/2018

HDP USA Update: October/November 2018

Miss it yesterday? Read our October/November newsletter, and be sure to sign up to get updates from us.

Hello from HDP in the USA! We are glad to announce our monthly newsletter for those interested in developments in Turkey and the region and the work ...

10/31/2018

Free Max Zirngast! DSA Condemns Political Repression of Journalists and Dissidents in Turkey - Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)

"Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government has laid waste to Kurdish areas inside and outside the country, arrested opposition figures including People’s Democratic Party (HDP) presidential candidate Selahattin Demirtaş, shuttered media outlets, and cozied up to the fascist Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). Erdogan’s aim has been to consolidate his power and squelch the cause of popular democracy in Turkey."

Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) condemns the Turkish government’s imprisonment of Max Zirngast, an Austrian socialist, journalist, and student. Zirngast — who has written for a variety of publications, including the American socialist magazine Jacobin — was arrested on September 11 by T...

10/15/2018

Partiya Demokratîk a Gelan

Partiya Demokratîk a Gelan

HDP gel e û ti hêz nikare îradeya gel bişkîne. Bi mîrasa têkoşîna dehan salan û bi hêviya avakirina welatekî azad, 6emîn salvegera damezirandina partiya me, li gelên me pîroz be!

09/24/2018

USA Stand With Afrin

September 26th, 7:00pm, Gotham Hall, New York.

The butcher of Afrin isn't welcome here.
Join us Wednesday: https://www.facebook.com/events/342899199869791/

07/28/2018

HDP US Representative Giran Ozcan is speaking on Rojava&Detroit panel in fearless cities event at NYU

07/11/2018

"The Future of US-Turkish Relations After Erdogan’s Victory" held at EMET.

06/25/2018

Our US Representative Giran Ozcan will be on The Heat on CGTN ( https://america.cgtn.com/livestream/ ) at 7pm EST to discuss what the election result means for Turkey and the Kurds.

06/23/2018

What is the HDP?

06/20/2018

Opinion | I Am Running for President in Turkey. From My Prison Cell.

Opinion | I Am Running for President in Turkey. From My Prison Cell.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his party are using the state of emergency and other underhanded measures to suppress Kurdish votes.

06/18/2018

Bizi vurmak kurtuluş mu?

06/18/2018

Imprisoned president candidate Selahattin Demirtas addressed the peoples of Turkey from behind bars.

06/13/2018

MUST LISTEN AND SHARE!!

In a closed meeting Erdogan tells neighborhood leaders "I won't say this publicly, the HDP needs to be left out of parliament, we need to work specifically on the HDP." And then goes on to say: "You know who is who in your neighborhoods, do what is necessary".

KESIN DINLE VE PAYLAS!!

Erdogan kapali bir toplantida mahalle baskanlarina "Ben bunu disarda soylemem, HDP baraj alti kalmali, HDP uzerine ck ozel bir calisma yurutulmeli" diyor. Dinleyenlere "siz mahallenizde kimin ne oldugunu biliyorsunuz, kimin HDP'li oldugunu biliyorsunuz," diyerek nelerin talimatini veriyor?

06/06/2018

Our imprisoned Presidental candidate Selahattin Demirtas conducts election rally from behind bars.

06/01/2018

Demirtas Kî ye?
Demirtaş Kimdir?
Who is Demirtaş?

05/30/2018

05/23/2018

Our presidential candidate Selahattin Demirtas successfully convinced electorate and wife, Basak Demirtas, with “projects and views on a beautiful life” during visit in prison today.