The Amed (Diyarbakır) provincial association of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) has been banned by the police from issuing a statement on the upcoming party congress.

Police units cordoned off the Sanat Sokağı (Art Street) in the central district of Yenişehir with armoured vehicles and surrounded a group of HDP members, including MPs Musa Farisoğullari, Semra Güzel, Remziye Tosun and Dersim Dağ as well as the provincial association co-chairs Hülya Alökmen Uyanık and Zeyat Ceylan.

A ban order of the governor's office was used to justify the police measure. The HDP group did not allow itself to be stopped and staged a march towards Ekinciler Street, where HDP headquarters is located. During the protest march, the crowd chanted "Bijî Serok Apo" [Long Live Leader Öcalan]. A little later the group was stopped on its way to the Koşuyolu park. The police presence in the city continues.

The congress of the HDP will take place next weekend.