HDP leader Yuksekdag: Turkey backs the ‘Islamic State’

Figen Yuksekdag, co-leader of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) in Turkey, which won 13% in Turkey's general elections in 2015 was interviewed by Deutsche Welle in August 2015. She called for Turkey to cease military attacks on Kurds in Iraq. She also accused the Turkish government of support for ISIL in the past.

Today's Zaman also reported pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş, speaking at a Peace Rally held in İstanbul on the 9 August 2015, saying that the Justice and Development Party (AK Party) should keep its distance from the terrorism of the radical terrorist Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

However, news sources reported also of increased terrorist attacks within Turkey. The BBC and other sources recorded on the 10 August 2015 that at leat six members of the security forces had been killed in a series of attacks in Turkey amid rising tension between the government and the Kurdish militants.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: What to Make of Turkey’s New Counterterrorism Policy http://www.europeansources.info/record/what-to-make-of-turkeys-new-counterterrorism-policy/

Today's Zaman, 10.08.15: Demirtaş says AK Party must keep its distance from ISIL terrorism http://www.todayszaman.com/national_demirtas-says-ak-party-must-keep-its-distance-from-isil-terrorism_396091.html

Today's Zaman, 10.08.15: 6 more security personnel martyred in terrorist attacks in İstanbul, Şırnak http://www.todayszaman.com/national_6-more-security-personnel-martyred-in-terrorist-attacks-in-istanbul-sirnak_396111.html

BBC News, 10.08.15: Turkey attacks: Deadly violence in Istanbul and Sirnak http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-33844246

France24, 10.08.15: Turkish security forces reel from wave of attacks http://www.france24.com/en/20150810-live-turkey-suffers-wave-attacks-pkk-group-syria-turkey

Euro|Topics: Main Focus, 11.08.15: Turkey shaken by terror attacks http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/archiv_dossier/DOSSIER167899-Turkey-shaken-by-terror-attacks

The Conversation, 11.08.15: Is Turkey’s president profiting from escalating violence? http://theconversation.com/is-turkeys-president-profiting-from-escalating-violence-45921

Today's Zaman, 12.08.15: Gendarmerie sergeant killed in PKK attack in southeastern Turkey http://www.todayszaman.com/national_gendarmerie-sergeant-killed-in-pkk-attack-in-southeastern-turkey_396318.html

Hürriyet Daily News, 12.08.15: Turkey surrounded by terrorists (via Euro|Topics) http://www.eurotopics.net/en/home/presseschau/archiv/aehnliche/archiv_article/ARTICLE167928-Turkey-surrounded-by-terrorists

SETA: Opinion, 14.08.15: HDP: The Party of Missed Opportunities http://setav.org/en/hdp-the-party-of-missed-opportunities/opinion/27037

SETA: Tag: Domestic politics http://setav.org/Poitical-Studies/5/en

Today's Zaman, 19.08.15: 12 soldiers killed in PKK attack, clashes in two days http://www.todayszaman.com/national_12-soldiers-killed-in-pkk-attack-clashes-in-two-days_396904.html

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