11 Arrests in Afrin Protest in Kadıköy

Click to read the article in Turkish

13 people were detained during police intervention in protest staged in Kadıköy, İstanbul on January 21 upon call of Peace Bloc and Anti-War Coordination against the military operation launched into Afrin. 11 of them were arrested yesterday (January 23).

The detainees were charged with “propagandizing for a terrorist organization”. İstanbul 4th Criminal Judgeship of Peace ruled for the detainees not to be arrested on that charge since “the terror propaganda charge would be disproportional at this stage”.

The judgeship ruled for the 11 people to be arrested on charge of “attending unlawful demonstrations and rallies unarmed and not being dispersed despite warning”. The other two were released on probation.

The names of the arrestees are Ali Bozkurt, Ali Karakaş, Cezmi Özdemir, Fatma Akaltun Fırat, Koray Türkay, Nurullah Ay, Özge Akyüz, Ramazan Utku, Savaş Türbap, Şengül Yüksel, Ulaş Değerliyurt.

More than 100 people have been detained for criticizing the Afrin operation on social media. Two Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) executives in Muğla and one retired teacher in Kayseri were arrested. (AS/TK)