The action that the HDP (Peoples’ Democratic Party) Kurdistan Region Representative wanted to organize to get information about the whereabouts of Mehmet Vefa Koçaklı was prevented by Hewlêr security forces.

According to RojNews, HDP Kurdistan Region Representative planned an action Friday afternoon to demand news on one its members, Mehmet Vefa Koçaklı, whose whereabouts is unknown for 10 days.

Speaking to RojNews on the subject, HDP Kurdistan Region Representative Abid Ike said that they wanted to stage a demonstration in front of the Raperin Asayish (Public Security) Building to ask what happened to Vefa Koçaklı.

Koçaklı is a HDP member and the party and family have not heard from him for 10 days. "Asayish did not allow the action as it said permission had not been granted”, said the HDP representative.

Ike added that actions will continue until news are given of the whereabouts and status of Koçaklı.

What happened?

Mehmet Vefa Koçaklı, originally from Bitlis, had gone to the Kurdistan Region in 2010 due to pressures of the Turkish state and lawsuits against him.

He opened a restaurant in Hewlêr and with that he made his living.

Koçaklı went to Sulaymaniyah after being forced out of Hewlêr in May of 2017.

On 1 August 2018 he had been summoned by the Security forces in Hewler and since then no news has been learned as to what happened to him.

Although the HDP Hewlêr Representative has applied to the Public Security authorities on the issue, no official news has been given.

The HDP Representative said they will continue to pursue the issue until answers are given.