Turkish judiciary arrested 5 people including co-mayors Mehmet Fatih Taş and Fatma Ay, in Kulp district of Amed (Diyarbakır) using the HPG operation against Turkish contra forces as an excuse.

Following the arrest of co-mayors, they were removed from the post and replaced by a trustee.

Administrators from the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) paid a solidarity visit to Kulp city councilors against the trustee coup. The visit was attended by HDP administrators from three districts and city councilors from Ergani, Silvan and Hazro districts.

On the way back from the sit-in protest in front of the municipality building, HDP members were attacked by a group of 10 armed men with sticks and batons. The assailants are claimed to be village guards -local collaborators armed by the State to fight against the Kurdish people alongside the Turkish forces.

Following the attack, the HDP group was stopped at a military checkpoint and subject to criminal record check. While two cars were allowed to pass, one of them was kept waiting at the checkpoint.