The HDP’s ‘new life’ project has had a great effect. Many Alevi women living in Zurich in Switzerland have said they voted for the HDP and called on others to do the same.

Voting is continuing in Europe for the 7 June elections. Alevi women living in Zurich from Afyon, Sivas, Erzincan, Dersim, Maraş and Tokat said: “We Alevi women in Europe should vote for the HDP for our belief, freedom and identity.”

Zurich Alevi Cultural Centre Women’s Section Chair Hanife Temirci said their association had decided to support the HDP, adding that she was a Turkish Alevi from Sivas. She called on everyone to vote for the HDP to ensure it exceeds the threshold.

Elif Nacakgediği, a Turkish Alevi woman from Afyon, said the HDP was the only party that had a solution for all the social problems in Turkey. She added: “There have been lots of massacres in the country. I hope the HDP exceeds the threshold,” saying every vote counted.

‘All mothers should vote for the HDP’

Nuran Allak, an Alevi woman from Erzincan, said she had yet to vote, but that she would vote for the HDP. She called on all mothers to vote for the HDP. She added: “I grew up in Turkey and my identity as an Alevi was always denied. We always lived in fear and were ostracised. They always wanted us to imitate others. This must end. The HDP is the only force that can change this mentality. That is why I will vote for the HDP.”  

‘I previously voted for the CHP, but now I have voted for the HDP’

Hava Meral from Dersim said she had previously voted for the CHP, but had voted for the HDP at this election. Meral added that she was a great admirer of the HDP Co-president Selahattin Demirtaş.

‘CHP families should vote for the HDP’  

Another Alevi woman from Erzincan, Perihan Aslan, said that as a family they had always voted CHP. However, she said that in order to halt Erdoğan’s dictatorship mentality she would vote for the HDP. Aslan called on CHP families to support the HDP to prevent Erdoğan obtaining more executive powers as president.