Ankara Based Social Media Operation

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Home raids have been launched in capital city of Ankara, İstanbul and Eskişehir over “social media posts” about Afrin operation.

The detainees in Ankara have been taken to Ankara Security Directorate Anti-Terror Bureau.

Speaking to bianet, lawyer Murat Yılmaz said that at least 10 people were brought to the Security Directorate as of 10 a.m. but the number of people for whom detention warrants were issued is unknown.

Among the figures for whom detention warrant was issued is lawyer Kemal Aytaç, who is one of the executives of Justice Watch held every Thursday in front of the courthouse for the convicts of Cumhuriyet trial.

TTB’s declaration was read out at the Justice Watch yesterday

Lawyer Gülendam Şen Karabulutlar stated that police went to Aytaç’s home last night (February 1) but they couldn’t detain Aytaç as he was absent, the police didn’t search the home but informed that there is a detention warrant for him.

At the Justice Watch yesterday, the lawyers read out Turkish Medical Association’s (TTB) declaration entitled “War is a Matter of Public Health” and called for the release of TTB Central Council members, who were detained due to this declaration.

Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) former Co-Chair Figen Yüksekdağ’s advisor Songül Akbay, Cevahir Canpolat from Pir Sultan Abdal Culture Foundation, writer Emek Erez, Aysu Simge Taştan from the Students’ Collectives, Ali Erol from the Kaos GL, lawyer Kemal Ulusoy and documentary director Sibel Tekin from Seyri Sokak are among the detainees.

At least 35 arrests in social media operation

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Interior on January 29, 311 people have been detained due to their social media posts about Afrin operation on charge of “terrorism propaganda”.

The military operation that started on January 20 is on its 14th day. At least 34 people were arrested in the last 13 days. This figure reached 35 with the latest arrest in Sakarya. (AS/TK)