President of Federation of Syriac Associations in Turkey Evgil Türker chosen as Member of Assembly of Peoples’ Equality and Democratic Party representing Syriac people

ANKARA — On Sunday, the Green Left Party (YSP) in Turkey renamed itself the Peoples’ Equality and Democratic Party (HEDEP) during its Fourth Party Congress in Ankara in preparation for the upcoming municipal elections in Turkey, scheduled for late March next year.

The congress was held under the slogan Once Again for Freedom. Tülay Hatimoğulları Oruç and Tuncer Bakırhan were elected as party co-chairs.

During the congress, the letters of imprisoned Kurdish political leaders Gultan Kishanak, former Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Co-Chair Salaheddin Demirtaş, and former Mayor of Diyarbakir Selçuk Mizrakli were read aloud.

In her post-election address, Oruç underscored that achieving peace in the region hinges on resolving key issues, particularly those concerning the Kurdish and Palestinian communities.

She called for an end to hostilities against democratic peoples and denounced the Turkish government’s insistence on maintaining a military presence in North and East Syria, as well as the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). Oruç highlighted the alarming occurrence of war crimes, including the bombing of civilians, in these areas.

Bakırhan advocated for a constitutional overhaul, advocating for the transformation of the current constitution into a liberal and democratic civil document. He criticized the existing constitution, asserting that it stifles freedoms by suppressing political parties, subverting the people’s will through a guardianship system, neglecting recognition of the European Court, and prohibiting workers’ right to strike.

The congress also featured the identification of the 80-member assembly of the party, including notable figures such as Evgil Türker, representing the Syriac people as Presidents of the Federation of Syriac Associations in Turkey (SÜDEF). The assembly further elected the Disciplinary Council and members of the Conciliation Council.