Police attacked a group of people who protested the arrest of DTK co-chair and HDP Hakkari MP Leyla Güven. Many people were detained during police intervention in which HDP MPs were also battered.
The Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Istanbul Provincial Organization organised a demonstration to protest against the developments in Southern Kurdistan and the arrest of Democratic Society Congress (DTK) co-chair Leyla Güven with a press statement at Aksaray Metro Square in Fatih district of Istanbul.
The HDP building was blockaded by the police hours before the press release. Despite the blockade, hundreds of people, including HDK (Peoples’ Democratic Congress) co-spokesperson İdil Uğurlu, HDP MPs Saliha Aydeniz and Musa Piroğlu managed to get to the square.
The police said the press statement was banned by the Fatih District Governorship, announcing that the event would not be allowed. HDP members responded that they were using their democratic rights and would make a statement.
After a while, the police staged a crackdown on the party members. While HDP MPs were also battered by the police, many people, including HDP Istanbul provincial co-chairs Elif Bulut and Erdal Avcı, were detained.
