“Peace Detentions” in Hatay on Parliamentary Agenda

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The Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Adana MP Meral Danış Beştaş has submitted a parliamentary question concerning the operation conducted in Hatay province yesterday (February 13).

CLICK TO READ – Police Operation Against "End War" Declaration in Hatay

Speaking to bianet about the detentions, attorney Hatice Can had noted that in the prosecutor's search and detention warrant there were various charges under the heading, "crimes committed against the state", including "membership in an illegal organization", and indicated their belief that the reason behind the operation was the press release read out at the Human Rights Association (İHD) Hatay Branch headquarters on January 22.

Among at least 27 people taken into custody in the operation were: İHD Hatay Branch Head Mithat Can, HDP Hatay Province Co-Chairs Kerem Nalbant and Sultan Başaran, HDP Samandağ District Co-Chair Adnan Eryılmaz, HDP Defne District Co-Chair Mithat Miroğlu, Socialist Refoundation Party (SYKP) Hatay Co-Chair Hülya Kavuk, Confederation of Revolutionary Workers' Unions (DİSK) General Work Hatay Branch Head Yusuf Berkyürek, HDP administrators Dilek Daplan and Seher Cevheroğlu, and attorney Çetin Sakallı.

The parliamentary question also featured the information that "the cause of detention was stated to be the press release on the intervention in Afrin."

Five people detained the day before (February 12) in Hatay's İskenderun district for "engaging in illegal organization propaganda" through their social media posts were also arrested yesterday (February 13). (AS/PU)

* Photo by Ufuk Aktuğ – Hatay / DHA