Turkish authorities carried out a series of early morning raids on Tuesday in 28 cities, detaining 165 people.
These operations specifically targeted the Kurdish opposition and women’s rights groups, including political activists and members of the Peace Mothers Council, the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Youth Council, in cities including Istanbul, Diyarbakır (Amed), Adana, Şırnak (Şirnex), Mardin (Mêrdîn), Van (Wan) and Gaziantep (Dîlok).
Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya confirmed the detentions across 28 provinces, highlighting the scale of the operation.
The DEM Party Women’s Council condemned the raids, saying, “The detention of our members, including those from the Women’s Time Association, Peace Mothers, Free Women’s Movement (TJA), and Mesopotamia Cultural Association in 28 cities, is a continuation of political genocide operations. We will intensify our struggle for women’s freedom in the face of these oppressive tactics. Our slogan remains ‘Long live women’s solidarity, Jin Jîyan Azadî’.”