As the HDP (Peoples’ Democratic Party) rally in Van on Saturday was coming to an end it has been learned that 20 people have been taken into custody.

The rally was attended by tens of thousands of people and the police at the end attacked people with pepper gas.

During the police attack, HDP Van Province Co-President Yadisendan Karabulak was beaten and 20 people detained. The police then blocked all streets.

The rally has seen the participation of a big crowd addressed by HDP co-chair Sezai Temelli, as well as HDP Van MP candidates Bedia Özgökçe Ertan, Murat Sarısaç, Muazzez Orhan, Tayip Temel, Mukaddes Karakoç, Asuman Yılmazer.

HDP co-chair Sezai Temelli said: "This honorable people have resisted and won, despite all kinds of oppression and dirty tricks.”

Temelli said that on Sunday 24 June the people will bring the government to account.

“No matter which provocation or trick they will try to play, we won’t give in and we will win, shoulder to shoulder against fascism.”

The HDP co-chair and candidate added that “this government’s mentality is one that cannot tolerate democracy. That is why the first thing they do is to close the institutions we have opened with our labor. They close the institutions of women and they close the children's nurseries. This is the mindset, this mentality is the enemy of women, the enemy of children.”

Temelli reminded of the innocent people massacred in Suruç in the AKP provocation and added that justice has not been done, as the culprits are still free.

“The HDP - said Temelli - will overcome the threshold and will enter parliament not with 80 deputies but with 180. Our responsibility is to open the way to democracy in Turkey.”

Temelli then reiterated that “democracy is only possible with the solution of the Kurdish question” and added that “Van will answer to Erdoğan on Sunday. Democracy, peace and stability will not come to this country if Erdoğan is not going. Here we are then calling on Turkey. Go for peace, democracy, and justice.”

After Temelli's speech, the rally ended with the music of Koma Çarnewa singer Serhat and singer Mesut Gever.