‘HDP Esenyurt Co-Chair is arrested because Minister Soylu targeted him’

* Photo: Mezopotamya Agency (MA)

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İstanbul Esenyurt Co-Chairs of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) were detained on the grounds that the posters of Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), were found in the HDP Esenyurt office in a police raid a few days ago.

Held in detention for 6 days, Ercan Sağlam and Dilan Kılıç, the Esenyurt Co-Chairs of the party, were referred to the prosecutor's office yesterday (January 31). After giving their statements, they were referred to the Penal Judgeship of Peace on Duty with a request for their arrest.

While Ercan Sağlam has been arrested on charge of "being a member of a terrorist organization", Dilan Kılıç has been released on probation.

Speaking to bianet about the issue, attorney Müslüm Kocaoğlu reminds us that Sağlam and Kılıç were detained on January 24 as well:

"When they were first detained, their statements were taken by the Esenyurt Security Department and they were released.

"Afterwards, the images captured inside the district office were shared on social media. Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu posted messages targeting them and a new detention warrant was issued."

'No evidence, no strong criminal suspicion'

Indicating that the co-chairs were targeted by several politicians on social media, Kocaoğlu briefly adds the following:

"After they were targeted, they were taken into custody for the second time and it was decided to hold them in detention for four days. Then, the period of detention was extended for another four days.

"But they were referred to the prosecutor's office today without waiting for the end of these eight days.

"They were detained for propaganda, but referred to the judgeship to be arrested for membership of the organization. There is no legal ground for their detention or arrest. Dilan Kılıç has been released on probation.

"Ercan Sağlam has been arrested for a crime fabricated based on the documents seized during a search carried out at the district office in 2009, when there was no HDP. The documents about the works of the political party are cited as criminal evidence. A ruling of arrest has been given due to 'strong criminal suspicion' based on nonexistent evidence.

"There is not even a single piece of concrete evidence. Ercan Sağlam has been arrested because he was targeted."

What happened?

The video captured and shared on social media by the Esenyurt District Municipality personnel during the disinfection works led to a police raid on the HDP Esenyurt office in İstanbul on January 24 on the grounds that there were pictures of PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan.

Co-Chairs Kılıç and Sağlam were detained after the raid. They were then released after giving their statements. They were detained for the second time on January 25. HDP Esenyurt Co-Chairs Kılıç and Sağlam were referred to the prosecutor's office after being detained for six days. (RT/SD)