Diyarbakır Ready to March Towards Sur Against Blockade, Entrance Barred

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Diyarbakır province is getting prepared to march towards Sur district in protest of curfews and operations.

A march will take place today (March 2) at 4 p.m. upon call of Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş, Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-Chair Kamuran Yüksek, Democratic Society Congress (DTK) to have the blockade in Sur ended.

Entrance and exits are barred as of 12 a.m.

JİNHA reporter Beritan Elyakut informing bianet has expressed that Diyarbakır Governorship has barred entrance and exits to the district are barred as of 12 a.m.

The district has been closed off for every entrance except for persons residing in Sur.

Elyakut also stated that a large number of riot control vehicles (TOMA) and armored vehicles stand by at the entrance and exits, and streets of the district.

Demirtaş, HDP Diyarbakır MP Nursel Aydoğan, Peace Mothers, HDK, DTK, and DBP Diyarbakır Co-Chairs are waiting for the march in front of Dicle Fırat Cultural Center.

What had happened?

On the joint press conference on February 29, Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş, Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-Chair Kamuran Yüksek, Peoples’ Democratic Congress (HDK) Co-Spokesperson Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit, Democratic Society Congress (DTK) Co-Chairs Hatip Dicle and Selma Irmak had called for a march to Sur district to protest against the curfew in Sur which had been in effect for approximately three months.

HDP Co-Chair Demirtaş had noted; “Everybody should march to Sur at 4 p.m. on Wednesday (March 2) until barricades are removed and the bans are lifted in Sur. 

Following the statements, a probe has been launched by Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecution Bureau of Terror Crimes Investigation into Demirtaş and Yüksek. (EA/TK)