The executive committee of the AKP branch in Başkale district of Van has resigned from the AKP and joined the HDP.

The executives of Başkale organization said they were doing this to protest the detention of 5 Kurdish politicians who tried the calm down the crowd amidst a conflict during AKP members' visit to the district on 3 May.

Tension rose in the district during the visit of AKP Van provincial co-chair Zahir Soğanda, AKP Van MP Candidate Faruk Alpaslan and AKP members whom local people refused to receive at a condolence ceremony and their workplaces in an election campaign.

AKP Başkale Branch chair İsmet Mühürcü and the members of the district executive committee protested the arrest of Kurdish politicians, stressing that the AKP officials insulted the local people and tried to create a provocation by performing their visit to the accompaniment of an army of police force.

A total of 21 members of AKP Başkale organization have resigned from their party in protest at the incidents and joined the HDP following a ceremony in HDP election office with the participation of HDP district executives and co-mayors.

“I am resigning with my own consent and in order to stand by my people”, said AKP Başkale Branch chair İsmet Mühürcü, stressed that the AKP candidate and party executives visited the town with an army of police force despite all the warnings that this would not be welcomed by the people. He also recalled that the AKP executives also insulted the people who did not want accept their visit, and that the Kurdish politicians arrested there were trying to hinder a probable conflict and a greater provocation.

Speaking after, HDP Van branch co-chair Veysi Dilekçi said that they were happy to welcome the new members home. Dilekçi said this resignation was the best answer to the policy of tension the AKP wanted to generate.