Protests were held across Turkey and Europe as the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office stated that a police investigation report would be prepared on seven HDP deputies.
The Prosecutor’s Office has released a statement about the operation.
According to the statement, 20 people were detained and a police investigation report will be made for seven Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) deputies.
The investigation aims to lift the parliamentary immunities of the seven deputies.
The Prosecutor’s Office has decided to detain 82 people in seven provinces within the scope of the investigation into the 6-8 October ‘Kobanî protests’ of 2014. Kars Municipality co-mayors Ayhan Bilgen and former HDP deputy 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 MPs, co-chairs and members of the Central Executive Board (MYK) have also been detained.
Detainees were finally able to meet their lawyers at the Ankara Security Department, following the expiration of a 24-hour ban on consulting with legal representatives.
According to the information lawyers have shared, the confidentiality order on the investigation continues.
Reactions to detentions
Pervin Buldan, HDP co-chair, stated that the operation against the HDP was not new – it was a continuation. Buldan said: “This is a follow-up to the political coups of the Justice and Development Party (AKP)”.
Republican People’s Party (CHP) chair Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu called HDP co-chair Mithat Sancar to express his solidarity with the HDP. Kılıçdaroğlu stated that the operation was political and indicates that the AKP was deadlocked.
Protests
Several protests occured in cities across Turkey, including İstanbul, Ankara, Şırnak, Dersim, Adıyaman and other cities. People gathered in İstanbul to protest the detentions and suppression policies.
Kurdish umbrella organizations KCDK-E (European Kurdish Democratic Society Congress), KON-MED (Confederation of the Communities from Kurdistan in Germany) and TJK-E (Kurdish Women’s Movement in Europe) have called for spontaneous protests in Europe against this detention operation. Numerous people took to the streets and chanted: “Kobanê did not fall, nor will the HDP”.
In Duisburg, numerous people gathered in Königstrasse to protest against the suppression of the democratic opposition in Turkey. The German Left Party (DIE LINKE) has also participated in the demonstrations.
The “Democratic Alliance of Forces”, in which Kurdish and Turkish-origin organisations are united, held a rally at the Sternschanze suburban train station in Hamburg.
Demonstrations also took place in Switzerland.
