Turkey’s Kurdish Party Looks to Religion to Boost Political Profile

After suffering defeat in last year’s general election to the Islamic rooted AK party, Turkey’s main Kurdish party is turning to religion in its battle to re-establish itself as the region’s main political power. But there are concerns about the direction the movement is going. For VOA, Dorian Jones has this report from Diyarbakir in southeast Turkey.

Turkish Kurds hold flags of a pro-Kurdish party as they dance during the celebrations for Nowruz in Diyarbakir (File)

At a public meeting of the Democratic Society Party or DTP, in Diyarbakir, leaders address their supporters.

Standing at their sides are religious elders. The retired Imams, while religiously conservative, are staunch supporters of Kurdish nationalism. But in last year’s general election they didn’t give their traditional support to the DTP. That lack of support coincided with a victory for the Islamic rooted AK party, which stood on a platform of Islamic solidarity. Head of Diyarbakir’s religious elders, Zait Citiran, says the DTP had to be taught a lesson.

VOA News – Turkey’s Kurdish Party Looks to Religion to Boost Political Profile