The Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Executive Committee issued a statement on the mass detentions in Turkey this morning, saying: "The AKP/MHP government is facing the biggest electoral defeat in its history and continues to attack our party, civil society organisations, social dynamics and the opposition out of panic and fear. In the attack carried out via the judiciary in the morning hours in 21 provinces centred in Diyarbakır [ku. Amed], more than 100 people were detained, including our deputy co-chair Özlem Gündüz, our Central Executive Board (MYK) member Mahfuz Güleryüz, other party members, journalists, lawyers and artists.”

A NEW POLITICAL COUP ATTEMPT

Regarding the background of the operation, the HDP executive board said: "We and society know the reason for this attack, which was carried out by the AKP government, and the judiciary led by it. The government has been trying to prolong its life with political coups, massacres, black propaganda, special war methods, threats, blackmail and all kinds of attacks since 2015. With this morning's wave of detentions, it has launched a new coup attempt ahead of the May 14 elections. The operation is directed against the will of the electorate and an open intimidation and threat to society and its political preferences.”

The statement continued: “It is not a coincidence that lawyers who will protect the ballot boxes and fight against illegality, media workers who will inform the public and politicians who fight against the AKP on the ground are taken into custody at the same time. The ruling party first led the gangs and the mafia it nurtured and raised into the field and made them threaten society in ISIS style, and now it is directly interfering in the elections through the police and the judiciary. The judiciary and the police, who have not taken action against the gangs that openly threaten beheadings in the streets and pressure our voters with their children, have interfered in the election campaign of AKP and MHP."

THE GOVERNMENT WILL DISAPPEAR FROM THE POLITICAL STAGE

"The AKP/MHP government, which becomes aggressive when it loses and loses when it becomes aggressive, will not be able to escape the fate that awaits it. These attacks are the AKP's last battles. They are futile efforts that will never lead to results. Our people and all social groups whose will is threatened will give the biggest answer to these attacks at the ballot boxes. The AKP will not be able to reverse the course of history with this operation, on the contrary, it will disappear from the political stage with the will of the people and never return," said the statement.

"We call on all those who want to put an end to this order of threats and blackmail, who show the will to come to terms with the illegitimacy that has been practised for years, to take an open stand against these attacks. In the place of every person detained, we call on thousands and tens of thousands of people to take responsibility and participate in the electoral campaign, protect the ballot boxes and actively fight against the coup. We are here and we will surely win!"