The Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) has been dwelling on religious issues trying to court the pro-secular votes of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) on the one hand and trying to spread anti-Islamic sentiments among the Kurds of eastern and southeastern Anatolia in an effort to boost its votes in the June 7 elections.
The PKK which in fact has nothing to do with politics and has opted to fight a terrorist war against Turkey for nearly four decades as a Marxist entity has always opposed Islam and promoted atheism among the people of eastern and southeastern Turkey. The PKK has not been able to wipe out the good name of Islam in these areas where people continue to practice the religion in a very devout manner, so in recent years it has toned down its anti-religious rhetoric.
However, in recent times we have seen with concern that the PKK is starting to act more boldly against Islam and the HDP which is acting like the political extension of the militant group is following course.
We have been told by our Kurdish friends in the Lice district of the southeastern Diyarbakir province that some PKK militants who have now come down from the mountains and have "melted" into the society are telling other Kurds not to pray. They are reportedly carrying out an intimidation campaign against the devout Muslims and are also pushing them to vote for the HDP in the upcoming polls and not for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) or the religious pro-Kurdish Free Cause Party (HÜDA PAR).
We have also had reports from the southeastern border city of Cizre in Şırnak province that the Muslim Kurds are being intimidated. However, this is not helping the HDP, it is only further alienating the devout Muslims of the region.
HDP Joint Chairman Selahattin Demirtaş is also making a grand mistake targeting the Presidency of Religious Affairs of (DİB) Turkey declaring he will disband the institution. He has also accused President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for showing a printed Kurdish version of the Quran published by the DİB saying this is a campaign ploy. Demirtaş has to see that thanks to the DİB's services the Sunni masses of Turkey have not opted to extremism and radicalism and have remained as moderate force. Demirtaş also has to understand that the DİB is not involved in party politics and has prepared the Kurdish and Armenian versions of the Quran in early April and has long started its distribution.
Demirtaş may be hoping to win some secular votes in western Turkey but in the process he is alienating Muslims at a time when he needs all the votes he can get to pass the 10 percent threshold and get his HDP into Parliament. You do not have to try to defame Islam, attack the DİB and try to play on the Kurdish Quran to win some of the votes that would normally go to the CHP. Demirtaş has to come up with sensible policies, criticize the government in a way that the CHP has failed to do and turn on his charm to win some left-wing votes.
Toying around with the great religion of Islam, trying to hurt the DİB should never have been Demirtaş's agenda.
The PKK has reportedly instructed its followers not to get involved in any acts of violence or create anarchy, lie low and help the HDP pass the threshold. Demirtaş should not dampen the prospects of the HDP by harassing Islam and the DİB.
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