Two people were detained while journalists were not allowed into the area. HDP Deputy Group Chairperson Yıldırım spoke in the demonstration and said: “We want all to support our watch which will be open for visits for a week. We are both righteous and strong. We will certainly prevail.”

The Conscience and Justice Watch launched by the HDP with the motto “Let’s not stop, let’s say stop” started under resolute resistance against police blockade and attacks in the latest stop after Amed, Istanbul and Van in Izmir. MPs were battered and 2 people were detained during the watch demonstration to which no journalists other than those who hold the “Prime Ministry press card” were allowed. The police also prevented the weekly group meeting addressing the journalists who were not allowed into the area. HDP MPs held the parliamentary group meeting surrounded by barriers and under police attack while only the Anadolu Agency was allowed to follow.

MPS BATTERED, PEOPLE TAKEN IN CUSTODY

HDP MPs including HDP Deputy Group Chairperson Ahmet Yıldırım and Group Spokesperson Osman Baydemir met by the HDP Provincial Branch office in the Konak district in Izmir in the morning and started to march towards the Gündoğdu Square where the Conscience and Justice Watch demonstration was to be held. Hundreds of people supported the march and the MPs met with the crowds in Alsancak. During the enthusiastic meeting, people chanted “Rights, law, justice”. The meeting grounds and the Kıbrıs Şehitleri Avenue was blockaded by armored vehicles and the riot police, and the state forces attempted to intervene with the slogans. Tensions occasionally flared up between state forces and HDP officials while the police prevented thousands of people from marching into the watch grounds along with the MPs. The police stated that nobody outside of the list of representatives to be given by the HDP would be allowed into the area.

After the MPs arrived in the watch grounds and the police did not allow the representatives on the watch list into the area, HDP MPs who intervened and the people who came to show support were attacked by the police. MPs were battered in the attack and 2 people were detained.

As the watch continues under the police blockade, the people gathered around the area are also attacked by the police.

FREE PRESS BARRED

The Izmir Police has prevented journalists from ANF, DİHA, Şujîn, Evrensel, PİRHA and other opposition media from following the watch demonstration and has allowed only Anadolu and Doğan Agencies in. The police said those without a “Prime Ministry yellow press card” will not be allowed inside and they are preventing other journalists from getting close to the watch grounds.