ANKARA - Because the operator of an event venue was intimidated by the Turkish police, the HDP had to hold its party congress in Eskişehir province in the open air.
The Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) organization in Eskişehir in north-western Turkey held its party congress today. The meeting had to be held in the open street, however, as the police are said to have massively intimidated the operator of an event venue previously rented by the HDP.
Şükriye Ercan from the HDP's party council said: "The owner of the venue intended for the party congress was quite obviously threatened by the police. Despite his contract, he did not turn up, so we were faced with closed doors. During telephone calls with the police, it was alleged that the hall’s windows had been broken and that the owner feared for his safety. But the windows are fine."
The police also ordered that the HDP association should not be allowed to hold its congress anywhere else in the Inönü district. "Normally, it is beyond the legal framework to hold the party congress outside the district borders. Since we had no other choice, however, we had to hold the meeting on a bypass road next to a petrol station in order to be able to elect our new executive board," Ercan said.