Police Attack HDP’s ‘Democracy Watch’ in İstanbul

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) has decided to hold its "Democracy Watches" against the state-appointed trustees in Diyarbakır, Van and Mardin Metropolitan Municipalities in İstanbul and İzmir as well.

Accordingly, the first "Democracy Watch" of the party in İstanbul was held at the Republic City Square in Esenyurt yesterday (September 25). Blockading the watch, the police attacked the group.

In İzmir, the watch was held in police blockade.

Police attack in İstanbul

Gathering for the "Democracy Watch" at the Republic City Square in the district of Esenyurt at around 5 p.m. yesterday, citizens were blockaded by the police. Police officers announced that the demonstration and march have been banned by the governorship.

The attempts of HDP MPs to negotiate with the police continued after this announcement. In the meanwhile, the police attacked the group with tear gas and plastic bullets. Several people have been taken into custody.

HDP MPs Garo Paylan, Hüda Kaya, Kemal Bülbül, Ahmet Şık, Necdet İpekyüz and Ömer Öcalan are still staging a sit-in protest at the square. The protest in İstanbul will continue till September 30.

Police blockade in İzmir

Organized by the HDP Provincial Organization, the watch in İzmir was held with the participation of HDP MPs Serpil Kemalbay, Ayşe Sürücü, Şevin Coşkun, Habip Eksik and Musa Piroğlu in front of İzmir Alsancak Türkan Saylan Cultural Center. The watch was held in police blockade.

The "Democracy Watch" was also supported by İzmir Bar Association.

What happened?

The Ministry of Interior announced that they dismissed Metropolitan Mayor of Diyarbakır Selçuk Mızraklı, Metropolitan Mayor of Mardin Ahmet Türk and Metropolitan Mayor of Van Bedia Özgökçe Ertan on August 19.

Diyarbakır Governor Hasan Basri Güzeloğlu, Mardin Governor Mustafa Yaman and Van Governor Mehmet Emin Bilmez have been appointed as Acting Metropolitan Mayors, or rather, as trustees.

As reported by Anadolu Agency, the mayors have been removed from office on the ground that there are 9 ongoing investigations against Diyarbakır Metropolitan Mayor Selçuk Mızraklı, 6 ongoing investigations against Mardin Metropolitan Mayor Ahmet Türk, 7 ongoing investigations against Van Metropolitan Mayor Bedia Özgükçe Ertan at heavy penal courts. (TP/SD)

* Photographs: HDP