* Photo: Gazete Karınca
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Police intervened into the press statement to be held to declare the foundation of the "United Struggle Forces" (Birleşik Mücadele Güçleri) platform in Kadıköy district in İstanbul yesterday (February 4).
The group met in front of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Kadıköy District Office and started walking towards Kadıköy Rıhtım (Dock).
Police did not allow the group to proceed further, reportedly taking at least six people into custody. As reported by Gazete Karınca news website, Revolutionary Party Chair Elif Torun Öneren and Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) Co-Chair Şahin Tümüklü were also detained.
While HDP's Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit and Dilşat Canbaz were reportedly battered during the intervention, police tried to detain HDP MP Nuran İmir. Taken to the detention vehicle, İmir was released afterwards.
As reported by Mezopotamya Agency (MA), the constituencies of the United Struggle Forces are as follows: The Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP), Alınteri (~elbow grease; a socialist workers' newspaper), Democratic Regions Party (DBP), Revolutionary Party, Struggle Union Platform, Socialist Assemblies Federation and Partisan. (EKN/SD)