Turkey: justice paves the way for ban on pro-Kurdish HDP party

The co-leaders of the pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party (HDP), Pervin Buldan and Mithat Sancar, at a press conference at the party's headquarters in Ankara, Turkey on June 21, 2021. REUTERS - CAGLA GURDOGAN

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In Turkey, the Constitutional Court agreed to open a trial to examine the dissolution of the HDP, the People's Democratic Party, the second opposition force in parliament.

Pro-Kurdish, defender of oppressed minorities, the party faces a campaign of hatred.

This legal procedure will pave the way for the outright closure of the party.

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With our correspondent in Istanbul

Cerise Sudry-Le Dû 

In a few years, it is an understatement to say that the HDP in Turkey has taken a hit.

The demonstrations of its militants are very often prohibited, its members are almost systematically assimilated to terrorists, its leader was imprisoned and last week,

a young woman, Deniz Poyraz, was killed by an ultra nationalist

, in the permanence of the party in Izmir.

Latest episode to date: on Monday, the Turkish Constitutional Court agreed to pursue a legal action demanding the outright ban of the party, as well as the ineligibility of 450 of its members.

A prosecutor had in fact demanded its closure, arguing of links with the Kurdistan Workers' Party, the PKK, an armed group described as " 

terrorist

 ".

The HDP immediately denounced a "

 political trial 

" carried out underwater by the MHP, a nationalist party, an ally of Erdogan and deplored that the Court had missed a unique opportunity to pronounce " 

for peace

 ".

If the date of the trial has not been specified, the decision comes as the presidential election is due to take place in two years in Turkey.

Already some polls give Recep Tayyip Erdogan in trouble.

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