Dozens of people were targeted by the police in the wake of protests against the appointment of state officials to replace the mayors elected by the Kurdish population in the 31 March local elections.
People have been taking to the streets since yesterday in protest at the usurpation of the municipalities of Mardin, Batman and Halfeti and the appointment of trustees by the Ministry of Interior in the place of the democratically elected representatives of the Kurdish people for the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party).
75 people detained in Batman
In Batman, 75 people were taken into custody during the protests that started yesterday. The detainees were subject to brutal police violence and their detention procedures continue.
Gürcan Turşak, who was battered and detained during the anti-trustee protest in Adana yesterday, was released at night after procedures at the police department. The Adana Branch of the Human Rights Association (IHD) will file an official complaint against the police officers who battered Turşak.
House raids in Halfeti
Many people were taken into custody in house raids in the Halfeti district of Urfa. Those detained are being held at the District Security Directorate and the number of detainees is expected to increase.
Some of those detained in the operation were named as follows: Adle Fidan, Muhammet Algaç, Elif Yalçın, Berivan Kocaoğlu, Yusuf Yeşiltepe, Gürkan Göktaş, Seve Yalçınkaya and Musa Yalçınkaya.
9 detained in Mardin
9 people were detained in house raids in Mardin and taken to the Provincial Security Directorate. The reason for the detentions was not disclosed.
