Investigation launched into pro-Kurdish party co-chairs in Turkey

Duvar English

An investigation was launched into the co-chairs of Turkey's main pro-Kurdish party over its remarks regarding Turkey's military offensive in northern Syria.

The Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) co-chairs Sezai Temelli, Pervin Buldan and three other deputies from the party are accused of "making terror propaganda," "praising crime and criminal" and "insulting the Turkish government."

"This attack that targets all humanitarian and democratic values, primarily a women's revolution, is an attempt to clear the way for ISIS, which has been waging a war against various faiths in the Middle East, and its resurgence," read the statement released by the co-chairs on Oct. 9, while also criticizing the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP).

"The government of the AKP and the MHP has launched an invasion attempt in northeastern Syria in front of the whole world whilst violating all of the international agreements," it added.

Turkey launched a military offensive in northern Syria with the aims of establishing a "safe zone," eliminating targets of the People's Protection Units (YPG) and ensuring the safe return of Syrian refugees in Turkey to their homeland.

While the offensive called "Operation Peace Spring received" the widespread backing across the political spectrum, the HDP was the only party to slam it.

"This aggression is not aimed at any political structure or party as the government alleges, but it targets Kurdish people and the democratic gains they have won with the other peoples of the region," the HDP's statement said, which prompted the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office to launch an investigation into its co-chairs and deputies Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit, Leyla Güven and Berdan Öztürk.

A number of deputies and former deputies from the HDP have been in prison over terror charges, including its former co-chairs Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ.