Many detained as police attack people remembering Suruç victims

Turkish police attacked the people remembering victims of the Suruç massacre on its third anniversary. Many people including ANF reporter Zeynep Kuray have been detained.

As the Turkish state is yet to shed light on the Suruç massacre, in which an ISIS member blew himself up and killed 33 socialist young people three years ago, people who wanted to remember the victims today were also faced with police attack, both in Ankara and Istanbul provinces.

In Turkish capital city Ankara, a large crowd gathered at the central Sakarya Square to make a statement to the press to mark the third anniversary of the massacre.

Police did not allow the gathering of the mass on the grounds that it is “not permitted by the governorate”. The people, carrying banner reading “Justice for Suruç, justice for everyone”, were chanting slogans when they were attacked by the police with tear gas. Policemen dragged demonstrators on the ground, battered them and detained over 10 people.

HDP MP Musa Piroğlu was also affected by the police violence when he reacted to the crackdown. Journalists covering the scene were prevented from doing their job.

In Istanbul, members of Suruç Families Initiative and youth organizations were attacked by the police when they intended to start a march to remember the 33 young people killed in Suruç massacre.

Police did not allow the gathering here either, attacking the mass with tear gas and rubber bullets. Many people including ANF reporter Zeynep Kuray were taken into custody in the crackdown which continues still.