DBP Co-Chair Mehmet Arslan Detained

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Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Co-Chair Mehmet Arslan was taken into custody on Saturday (August 12).

At least 36 Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) members were detained during the operation launched in Adana, Antalya and Mersin. Kepez district administrator Hogır Gürses was detained in Antalya, but since he was among the 20 people detained who were not allowed to see their attorneys, where he was taken is not known.

Arslan was detained this morning

DBP Co-Chair Arslan was taken into custody in a police raid conducted at a house in Adana where Arslan was staying as a guest.

According to dihaber, Arslan was reportedly detained following the instruction of the Siirt Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. The reason for his detention was not given due to a court order of confidentiality issued for his case.

Detentions in Çukurova

Fırat News Agency reported that at least 20 young people were taken into custody in the operation and they are held in the Adana Security Directorate. The attorneys that went to the police station  were not allowed to meet with the detainees and no information was given to the attorneys as to why they were detained.

The number of detentions rose to 10 following the operation launched against the HDP district and provincial co-chairs and administrators in Mersin on Friday. 10 HDP members including Mersin provincial co-chairs Hatice Şahin and Mirza Söylemez were detained in house raids launched in the districts of Akdeniz, Yenişehir and Mezitli. They are being held in the Provincial Security Directorate. (EA/TK)