House Raids by Police in Dersim, Diyarbakır

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Police launched simultaneous raids in many houses in Dersim and Diyarbakır today (October 11) in the morning hours. 55 people including executives from Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) and Democratic Regions’ Party (DBP) were detained. There was no detentions in Dersim.

According to Dicle News Agency (DİHA) and Fırat News Agency (ANF), police raided many houses simultaneously in Diyarbakır provincial center and its district. In the operations and house searches, 55 people were taken into custody in Diyarbakır including DBP Diyarbakır Province Co-Chair Hafize İpek, HDP Diyarbakır Province Co-Chairs Cebbar Leygara and Gülşen Özer, HDP Kayapınar District Co-Chair Abbas Ercan as well as other executives from DBP and HDP.

The police raids were reportedly conducted on notice of the prosecution office due to social media postings, events and demonstrations the residents of the raided houses allegedly attended.

Houses of former Co-Mayor of Dersim Municipality Edibe Şahin, Dersim Vice Co-Mayor İbrahim Kasum and Hüseyin Tunç, Labor Party (EMEP) Province Chair Mustafa Taşkale, Former DBP Province Co-Chair Leyla Akyıldız, Doğan News Agency (DHA) correspondent Ferit Demir, DBP Province administrator Necla Kılıç, former DBP executive Şahin Kuçin.

Nobody was taken into custody in Dersim. Those whose houses were raided were summoned to testify later. (OÜ/EKN/DG)