Fifteen women have been taken into custody early on Friday morning in the province of Van following a police operation which targeted Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) woman activists.

Among the detainees are also VAKASUM (Van Research and Practice Center for Women’s Studies) sociologist Ceyhan Timur, VAKASUM workers Emine Bozkurt, Fatma Kýzýl, BDP PM member Arzu Moco, BDP Van Woman’s Council Member Hatice Abalý, BDP member Aynur Baðýþ and VAKASUM worker Emine Bozkurt’s father Hazým Bozkurt.

Detentions came before the march BDP Van Woman’s Council organized for People’s Defense Forces (HPG) guerrilla Bedriye Akti who has lost her life in clashes in Bitlis area in the most recent military operation by the Turkish army.