Investigation into HDP's 4th İstanbul Congress

* Photo: Mezopotamya Agency (MA)

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The Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) held its 4th İstanbul Ordinary Congress yesterday (December 12).

Today, we held our 4th HDP Istanbul Congress with the enthusiastic and determined participation of our peoples. We congratulate the newly elected administration. Together we are strong, and dedicated to our principles of democracy, justice and peace. #İstanbuldaHDPZamanı pic.twitter.com/Ow3i0eZZcT

— HDP English (@HDPenglish) December 12, 2021

Shortly after the Congress was held, the Counterrorism Department of the Directorate General of Security released a statement and announced that a criminal complaint was filed about the congress.

As the reason for the criminal complaint, the Security Directorate stated that "slogans praising the leader of the terrorist organization were chanted and organizational anthems were sung by the participants."

On the day when this statement was made (December 13), the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has announced that an investigation has been launched into the HDP's 4th İstanbul Congress.

Statement by the Security Directorate

The HDP's İstanbul 4th Ordinary Congress was held in the Küçükçekmece Yahya Beyatlı Performance Center yesterday.

In its written statement about the Congress on its social media account, the the Counterrorism Department of the Directorate General of Security recalled that the Congress was held at 11 am and "informed about the congress, the necessary security measures were taken by the İstanbul Provincial Security Directorate in the related place starting from 8 am."

Noting that the participation in the congress began at 11 am, the Department said, "As it was detected that slogans praising the head of the terrorist organization were chanted and organizational anthems were sung by the attendants at the congress hall, a criminal complaint had been filed to the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office". (EMK/SD)