Operation Against HDP, DBP Politicians, Women’s Associations in Diyarbakır

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA) / Archive

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As part of an investigation based in Turkey's Kurdish-majority Diyarbakır province, Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) and Democratic Regions Party (DBP) politicians, Free Women's Movement (TJA) activists and Rosa Women's Association members have been taken into custody.

In house raids conducted by the police at around 4.00 a.m. today (May 22), the following people have been detained:

In Karaköprü, Urfa: Rosa Women's Association founding member Narin Gezgör; in Diyarbakır: Rosa Women's Association founding member Ayla Akat Ata, Rosa Association Chair Adalet Kaya, TJA activists Gülcihan Şimşek, Zelal Bilgin, DBP former Co-Chair Mehmet Arslan, HDP Central Executive Committee member Özlem Gündüz, HDP Yenişehir District Co-Chairs Remziye Sızıcı and Kasım Kaya, HDP member Mehmet Ali Altınkaynak and Kurdish politician Celal Yoldaş and Nazile Tursun.

As reported by Mezopotamya Agency, the houses of the detained were searched for hours and they have been taken to Diyarbakır Security Directorate. Narin Gezgör, who has been detained in Urfa province, will reportedly be taken to Diyarbakır Security Directorate after a medical check.

The Agency has reported that the number of politicians to be detained as part of this operation might increase.

Statements by HDP, Rosa Association

Holding a statement for the press about the issue, HDP Spokesperson Ebru Günay has demanded the immediate release of the detained.

"The government signals that it will keep on bearing enmity towards women. Our struggle has recognized no repression. We will keep on raising solidarity and women's struggle," Günay has noted. 

Rosa Women's Association has also announced the operation on its Twitter account. Indicating that five women from the association have been detained as part of the operation, it has also noted that the office of the association is still being searched by the security forces. The association has called on all women's organizations to solidarize with Rosa. (HA/SD)