Thousands took to the streets today to protest the AKP government's occupation attempt in Amed and detention of co-mayors Gültan Kışanak and Fırat Anlı.

ISTANBUL

HDP and HDK Istanbul branches organised demonstrations in Istanbul to protest the detention of Amed co-mayors and the attack on the municipality.

One of these demonstrations took place at Galatasaray Square where hundreds gathered amid a heavy presence of police forces with water cannons.

HDP former MP Levent Tüzel, HDP Istanbul provincial co-chairs Doğan Erbaş and Aysel Güzel joined the demonstrators who called for unity against AKP fascism and immediate release of Amed co-mayors. Protestors stressed that they will not bow down to the atrocity, pressure and unlawful practices of the AKP ruling.

VAN

Hundreds also gathered in central Van province and protested the increasingly ongoing attacks against the will of the people.

Co-mayors Bekir Kaya and Hatice Çoban, DBP provincial co-chair Sevinç Şeker, HDP provincial co-chair Yunus Parim, DBP Party Assembly members, HDP MP Lezgin Botan, co-mayors of district municipalities and KJA activists joined the demonstration alongside the people.

A statement on behalf of the demonstrators pledged to enhance the struggle and called attention to the unlawful practices of the AKP government.

İZMİR

HDP İzmir branch protested the attack on Amed Municipality with a press briefing in Konak area, which was attended by representatives of political parties, non-governmental organizations and people who often chanted “The will of the people cannot be confiscated” and “Pressures cannot intimidate us”.

HDP provincial chair Mahfuz Güleryüz said in a statement on behalf of the mass that the AKP government was realizing coup practices, and vowed to protect their will and not to bow to pressures.

Güleryüz said they will resist the AKP coup for the fraternity of Turkish and Kurdish peoples.

ANKARA

Objections to the arrest of Amed Co-Mayors Gültan Kışanak and Fırat Anlı continue to grow. Ankara Women’s Platform, We Will Stop Femicides Platform, We Will Make Them Stop Platform, Pro-Halkevi Women and Campus Witches condemned the arrest of Kışanak and Anlı, and called upon women to show solidarity.

ADANA

HDP Adana Provincial Organization made a press statement in front of its building, and the representatives of many organizations including HDK, İHD, MKM and MEYADER participated in the event. HDP Provincial Co-President Gülseren Tural said that Tayyip Erdoğan was implementing a hostile policy of revenge against Kurdish people, and announced that they would organize street protests everyday at 11:00 until arbitrary and illegal arrests stop.

MERSİN

HDP Mersin Provincial Organization, HDK and other organizations held an emergency meeting and are expected to make a statement about the arrest of Amed Co-Mayors soon.

ŞIRNAK

Former DBP Provincial Co-President Kadir Kunur, MEYA-DER administrators, Cizre Municipality employees and HDP and DBP members made a press statement in Şırnak’s Cizre district. Kadir Kunur recalled that oppressive policies targeting Kurds have been carried out for a while now, and condemned the arrest of Amed Co-Mayors.

KOCAELİ

HDP Kocaeli Provincial Organization made a press statement and condemned the arrest of Amed Co-Mayors Gültan Kışanak and Fırat Anlı. HDP parliamentarian Ali Haydar Konca, Emek Party Provincial President Arzu Erkan and HDP Kocaeli Provincial Co-President İbrahim Erkan participated in the press statement, and criticized Erdoğan for his monist policies.

BURSA

Police officers attacked the protestors led by the HDP in Bursa’s Arabayatağı Pazar region. Tens of HDP members and administrators including HDP PM members Metin Kılıç amd Nadiye Gürbüz, Nadir Kırlılar, Çiçek Çelebioğlu, Nadir Özer, Layık Hanazay, Mehmet Sabri Gül, Dilek Dinçer were taken under custody, and the protestors are expected to make a press statement soon.