The People's Democratic Party [HDP] held a mass press statement on Wednesday in Mardin's 15 July Square against the replacement of mayors of Mardin, Diyarbakır and Van with state-appointed officials, with the participation of party's general president Sezai Temelli, HDP deputies and the sacked Mardin Metropolitan Mayor Ahmet Türk.

The press statement made despite the governor's ban. Speaking here, Temelli said they support and even fight for so-called the Gender Equality Project, which is considered as a global threat.

The HDP is a women's party, he said. "Those who ignore the will of people will account for it today. We will continue to ask for an account of this in the streets, in the fields, in the squares."

"They say there's a co-presidential system [in HDP]. Yes, there is a co-presidential system. The co-presidential system is not a crime, and it cannot be a crime," Temelli said.

Temelli claimed that co-chair system is an appeal against violence against women, "a crime committed against ignoring women, a struggle for women's freedom."

Temelli described co-chair system as it acts with equal representation wherever it is, and fight for gender equality.

"There are women today against those who ignore women politically, against those who exploit women's labor, against those who normalize violence against women."

"We call on women all over Turkey: no matter what political opinion you have, no matter what faith you have, it is time to give a shoulder to shoulder with women and in this struggle for women. It is also the time to tom come together in this fight against this masculine mindset that ignores women," he said.

Following Temelli's speech, the HDPs marched towards the party's provincial building. There have been frequent clashes between police and HDPs. (ILKHA)