In Turkey, the anti-democratic repressive apparatus continues to run at full speed. After around thirty detentions in the Kurdish province of Hakkari on Tuesday morning, the repression machine of the Erdoğan regime also targeted people in Mardin, Adana, Mersin and Izmir. In all cases, the crackdown is based on suspicions of "terrorism", according to lawyers. Most of those affected are Kurds.

Twelve people were taken into custody in the Aegean province of Izmir in the west of the country. However, the specific charges against the detainees are not yet known, as a 24-hour ban on lawyers has been ordered against them. They will thus be denied access to legal counsel for one day. In addition, the investigation file was placed under secrecy. The reason given for the measure is that “personal contact between the suspect and lawyers, as well as the authorisation to examine the contents of the file or make copies of the documents" could jeopardise the purpose of the investigation. Until they are transferred to the competent public prosecutor's office, the detainees remain in police custody at the Izmir police station.

At least seven people have been taken into custody in early morning raids in the southern Turkish city of Mersin. The number of detentions in the neighbouring province of Adana is still unclear. However, the incident is said to be connected to a preliminary investigation in the course of which ten people had been detained in Adana on Monday. Four of them are minors, who have since been released after interrogation.

On the other hand, nineteen people were reportedly taken into custody in the province of Mardin and the districts of Kızıltepe, Derik and Nusaybin, where the Turkish anti-terror police stormed numerous flats. The accusation is financial support for political prisoners. Those involved in the detention operation are suspected of having "financed terrorism" by providing material assistance to imprisoned relatives. Among those detained is 74-year-old Methiye O.