The Turkish government increases its political genocide operations against the Kurds and opponent circles ahead of the Newroz in March and referendum in April.

MERSİN

Police forces raided several houses in the southern province of Mersin early Friday morning and detained many people after a detailed search at each of the targeted addresses.

Former co-chair of HDP Toroslar district branch İsa Kurt is among those detained in the operations. The detainees were taken to Mersin police department.

BİTLİS

Members of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) were targeted in today's detention operations in Bitlis center and the districts of Tatvan and Ahlat.

HDP Tatvan district co-chair Mustafa Özcan, HDP Bitlis provincial administrator Nizam Naz, HDP member Taner Naz and former co-chair of HDP Ahlat district branch, Murat Kahraman were taken into custody as result of house raids.

ERZURUM

Police forces conducted simultaneous house raids in Erzurum's Karayazı district in the early hours of the morning and detained several people including DTK (Democratic Society Congress) member Fatih Karatoprak and DBP district administrator Erdal Bayram. The detainees were taken to district police department.

As many as 17 people were taken into custody during yesterday's detention operations in Erzurum and Karayazı district.

VAN

Detention period has been extended for 15 people detained yesterday, among them Saray district co-mayor Abdülkadir Çalışkan, until March 23.