Hakkari was a scene of one of the most dramatic protests today. After the arrest of 35 Kurdish politicians by Turkish police more than twenty thousand Kurds marched to the Iraqi border and declared they will seek refuge in South Kurdistan unless the detained Kurdish politicians will be released.

The protestors returned their homes after Peace and Democracy Party officials intervened late Monday.

The protests started in Hakkari after 35 Kurds were arrested Monday in the region with suspected links to urban wing of the PKK. The detainees include two deputy mayors of Hakkari and the local leader of Turkey's main Kurdish movement Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) there.

As the news spread a crowd of thousands came together in Hakkari city center and held a sit-in protest in front of Security Directorate. The crowd then marched to Depin check point which is close to the Turkey-Iraq border.

Hakkari People's Initiative released a statement saying that all people of Hakkari will cross the border and seek refugee in South Kurdish if Turkish authorities won't release Kurdish politicians.

BDP's Hamit Geylani, independent candidates Ozdal Ucer, Nazmi Gur and mayor of Van Bekir Kaya intervened and convinced the protestors to return to Hakkari after hours long of deliberations.

Speaking to the crowd Geylani said “If you leave here the Prime Minister will follow. We won't leave our land, our city”.

The protestors then returned to the city center and started a sit-in protest.