Celebrations marking the eighth anniversary of the foundation of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) were held in Diyarbakır (Amed) in Turkey.

Selçuk Mızraklı, the former Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality Co-Chair, sent a message of support: “HDP is Spartacus, who did not bend against tyranny”. The HDP’s deputy Hişyar Özsoy also spoke during the celebrations and said: “We will get rid of this government at the first opportunity”.

The celebrations were held in Veday Aydın Conference Hall in Diyarbakır. The HDP deputies Hişyar Özsoy, Dersim Dağ, Remziye Tosun, the Peace Mothers and several representatives from Non-Government Organisations (NGO’s) joined in the celebrations. A film of the HDP’s previous events was shown before speeches were made.

After the film, Özsoy said: “No matter how intense their barbarity is, we will get rid of them at the next election”. Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality Co-Chair Selçuk Mızraklı, who was replaced by a trustee and imprisoned in Kayseri Bünyan T-type Closed Prison, sent a message of support. He noted that even though a period of eight years was a short time in humanity’s history, it was an important part of a long-running struggle which has caused significant effects on the political history of Turkey. Mızraklı also referred to the HDP’s critical role in standing up to oppression.