At least 80 detained in 'chemical attack' protests in İstanbul, Şırnak

Police in Istanbul and soldiers in Silopi did not allow people to rally and protest with regard to allegations of use of chemical weapons against PKK in Iraq.

İstanbul

Photo: MA

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People's Democratic Party (HDP) and United Struggle Forces (BMG) wanted to organize rallies in Taksim, İstanbul, and in Silopi, Şırnak, a district that is located by the Iraq-Türkiye border.

At least 80 were detained in Istanbul among whom were members of the Peace Mothers. They were taken into custody and taken to the police quarters on Vatan Avenue in Fatih.

People wanted to gather in two points near the Istiklal Avenue in Taksim, Istanbul and march to the avenue, reported the Mesopotamia Agency.

After prevention by the police people gathered on the side streets of the avenue.

Police also prevented those who wanted to march starting from Tünel, at the end of the İstiklal Avenue. They blocked the crowd in which Sezai Temelli, Ayşe Acar Başaran, Gülistan Kılıç Koçyiğit and Tayyip Temel, all MP's of HDP were also present.

March in Şırnak

şırnak

The march in Silopi, Şırnak was called by the Democratic Society Congress (DTK), Free Women Movement (TJA), Democratic Regions Party (DBP), People's Democratic Party (HDP), Peace Mothers Assembly, the Federation of Associations for Legal Solidarity with Families of Detainees and Convicted (MED TUHAD-FED), the Association for Solidarity with Families Who Lost Their Family Members (MEBYA-DER), the Mesopotamia Culture Center (MKM), Migration Platform and Mesopotamia Ecology Movement.

The group wanted to march to the Habur border gate but were stopped by soldiers in İpekyolu. They closed the traffic in one lane but were later intervened using pressure water and tear gas. (RT/PE/VK)