Ankara’s Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has decided to detain 82 people in seven provinces within the scope of the investigation launched into the 6-8 October ‘Kobanî protests’ of 2014. Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Kars Municipality co-mayors Ayhan Bilgen and Sırrı Süreyya Önder have been taken into custody as part of this operation.

Warrants have been issued against other HDP members in the seven provinces.
Former Central Executive Committee HDP members have reportedly been detained. Former HDP MP’s, co-chairs and members of the Central Executive Board (MYK) have also been detained.

HDP Kars Municipality co-mayor Ayhan Bilgen, who was taken into custody, said: “I was expecting such an operation”. He stated that only ‘Jineology’ magazine had been seized by the authorities during his house search.

HDP Group Deputy Chairperson Saruhan Oluç spoke to DW Turkish about the operation. He said: ”This operation has been carried out against all of our MYK members from that period”. He further stated that “the arrest warrants for HDP’s former co-chairs Figen Yüksekdağ and Selahattin Demirtaş are also related to this case file”.

According to initial reports, the following people have been taken into custody:

HDP’s Kars Co-Mayor Ayhan Bilgen; Berfin Köse; HDP’s Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) member Ali Ürküt; HDP Foreign Relations Commission member Nazmi Gür; HDP former Central Executive Committee members Alp Altınörs, Bircan Yorulmaz and Gülfer Kaya; former member of HDP Central Executive Board Can Memiş, former HDP MP and Imralı Delegation member Sırrı Süreyya Önder, HDP MYK member Alp Altınörs, Ayla Akat Ata, Temel Demirer, Hakan Gülseven, Berfin Köse, Gülfer Akkaya, Bircan Yorulmaz, Beyza Üstün, Dilek Yağlı, Altan Tan, Emine Ayna and Günay Kubilay.

Those apprehended were banned from meeting with attorneys for 24 hours.