The detentions and arrests against the components of the Peoples' Democratic Congress (HDK) on 18 February were protested. 

 

WAN 

 

A statement was made by Democratic Regions Party (DBP), Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) and Free Women's Movement (Tevrgera Jinên Azad-TJA) at Feqiyê Teyran Park in Wan (Van).  DBP Provincial Executive Mehmet Emin Kutaz, who spoke at the statement where slogans "Long live the brotherhood of peoples" and "HDK we are here" were chanted, stated that the judiciary was carrying out political activities on behalf of the government. Kutaz said, "The operation agianst HDK in which at least 50 people, including our executive committee members Semiha Şahin, Mehmet Saltoğlu, former executive committee members and former HDK co-spokesperson Esengül Demir, were detained and 30 people were arrested is a complete legal disaster. The grounds for detention, judicial control and house arrest as well as the grounds for arrest are not legal texts, but political conspiracy texts aimed at the liquidation of the opposition by the government."

 

Underlining that the government is dragging the country into the abyss, Kutaz said, "We say once again; end the conspiracy trials. Release our friends whom you hold hostage in prisons and unlawfully arrested."

 

ŞIRNEX

 

DEM Party Şirnex (Şırnak) Provincial Organisation also made a statement. Democratic Regions Party (DBP), TJA components, representatives of civil society organisations and many citizens attended the statement. In the statement the slogans, "We are all HDK members" and "Repression cannot deter us" were chanted. Joint statement was read.