Dozens detained after showing poster of 1970s revolutionary leader during demonstration

Photo: Musa Piroğlu / Twitter

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Police detained 40 people during a demonstration for showing the poster of İbrahim Kaypakkaya, the founder of the Communist Party of Turkey/Marxist-Leninist (TKP/ML), an outlawed armed group founded in 1972.

Members of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Youth Assembly, the New Democratic Youth, the Union of Revolutionary Students and the Revolutionary Forces of the Youth (DEV-GÜÇ) gathered in İstanbul's Asian side district of Kadıköy to read out a statement about the foundation of the "United Youth Assembly." HDP deputy Musa Piroğlu also attended the gathering.

The crowd showed a banner that read, "We march together against fascism for our organization" and a poster of Kaypakkaya, Mesopotamia Agency (MA) reported.

The police wanted the demonstrators to remove Kaypakkaya's poster, saying that it was illegal. Then MP Piroğlu and police officers had a short conversation about the issue.

As an agreement was not reached, the police detained about 30 people, including journalist Fatoş Erdoğan, by beating them, according to MA. Erdoğan was released after being brought to a police vehicle.

After the police intervention, about 10 people, including MP Piroğlu, made a second attempt to read out their statement. They were detained as well. (RT/VK)