Turkish police take into custody at least 20 people in Istanbul and Kırklareli

Turkish police took into custody at least 20 people in an operation targeting HDK and HDP in Istanbul and Kırklareli this morning.

At least 20 people, including executives of the Peoples' Democratic Congress (HDK), Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) and many civil society organizations, were taken into custody following house raids carried out in Istanbul and Kırklareli in the morning.

Turkish Minister of Internal Affairs Ali Yerlikaya announced that 26 different addresses were raided.

The reason for the detention was not disclosed. The names of some of those detained are as follows: HDK General Assembly member Umut Ezber, HDP Central Council member Cengiz Topbaşlı, Democratic Alevi Associations (DAD) co-chair Kadriye Doğan, Kurdish Studies Association co-chair Eyüp Subaşı, HDP Pendik District co-chair Oya Aytekin, HDP Provincial Organization executives Çetin Aslanboğa and Mesut Fırat, HDP Ataşehir District Organization manager Halil Aksu, HDP Bakırköy District co-chair Gonca Yangöz and Mehmet Akçiçek, Bülent Yıldırım, Zaynel Azadi, Fikriye Sarıgöl, Burcu Demir, Fethiye Kızmaz, Behiye Demir, Hüseyin Avras, Baran Sümbül, Oktay Okşal and Behiye Duman.