Nine detained in police attack against HDP in Ankara – NEW

Police attacked the HDP group that wanted to make a press statement in protest at the seizure of HDP-run municipalities in the Kurdish region.

The Ankara branch of Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) was set to make a press statement about the AKP/MHP regime’s seizure of HDP-run municipalities of Iğdır, Siirt, Kurtalan, Baykan and Altınova five days ago.

Police besieged the HDP building and attacked the crowd on the grounds that the action was not permitted by the governorate.

During the crackdown Wednesday afternoon, HDP Ankara branch co-chair Vezir Çoşkun Parlak was battered and taken into custody.

Police got HDP Party Council member and lawyer Alişan Şahin on the ground and handcuffed him behind the back.  

HDP Central Executive Board (MYK) member, sociologist Veli Saçılık and HDP former MP for Hakkari, Nihat Akdoğan were also detained in the crackdown alongside six other people.

Police forces also obstructed the press from covering the attack and filmed the reporters in the area.

The party members protested the attack, chanting “Shoulder to shoulder against fascism”, “HDP is the people and the people are here” and “Down with AKP fascism”.

The HDP building remains under police siege.