Eight people including DEM Party provincial co-chair detained in Iğdır

Turkish police raided the DEM Party's provincial organisation in Iğdır in the morning and detained eight people, including Mehmet Selçuk, the provincial co-chair.

The Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Provincial Organisation building was subjected to a police attack in the morning.

During the course of the raid, special operations police officers blocked all streets and avenues leading to the party building.

The search in the building lasted for hours. Many houses were raided simultaneously.

During the raids, eight people, including DEM Party Provincial Co-Chair Mehmet Selçuk, were taken into custody. The raids were based on a secret witness denunciation.

DEM Party members made a press statement in front of the provincial office to protest the raids and detentions.

DEM Party Provincial Co-Chair Bahar Etreci emphasised that they will not take a step back in the face of the pressure and said, “Hundreds of police officers blockaded the street where our party building is located. With these unlawful pressures, they aim to render the ‘Freedom Rally’ to be held in Amed on 13 October uninspiring. You will not be able to intimidate us with oppression.”

Bahar Etreci said, “As always, we will shout for peace and democracy most loudly. These pressures, detentions and arrests have taken place within the collapse plan of the AKP-MHP government. With these pressures, you will not be able to make us take a step back from our struggle for democracy. As always, we will continue to shout for democracy and peace.”