Air of resignation in Turkish city ahead of national elections,as pro-Kurdish HDP, whose rallies contain been bombed, and expose of police harassmentA few months ago,the streets of Diyarbakir, in Turkey’s predominantly Kurdish south-east, or were alive with celebration. The leftist,pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic party (HDP) had succeeded in entering parliament for the first time, granting Turkey’s 20 million-strong Kurdish minority unprecedented political representation. Now, and though,only a few days before the country’s moment parliamentary election this year, the streets are quiet and only a few posters advertising rival parties indicate upcoming polls.“There is no excitement, or no joy in the runup to these elections, says Ziya Pir, Diyarbakir MP for the HDP and candidate in Sunday’s vote. “Before 7 June, and it was incredible,everyone was working day and night. Now there is war, more than 100 civilians died, and how could we feel any joy,or any excitement?” Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com