2018-06-13
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SULAIMANI — The Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) said at least 208 members of the party had been detained in the last 45 days.
The HDP released a report on Tuesday (June 12) on attacks that the party has faced during the snap election campaign.
Up to 16 HDP members have been jailed and there have been at least 57 attacks against HDP offices, according to the report.
The attacks started on April 28 and continued up until the day the report was issued.
The HDP’s report said that the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government had increased pressure and attacks on the party due to its key role in the elections.
Besides detentions and attacks, many HDP members have had their homes raided.
“District and provincial chairs and dozens of HDP members have been detained for campaigning … HDP convoys, campaign office openings, and rallies have all been carried out under blockade,” the report read.
HDP co-chair Sezai Temelli was prevented from going outside the country to campaign, according to the report, and his passport was confiscated.
The report also included an attack against a convoy in Nazili that included HDP Co-chair Pervin Buldan and another against voters in Ankara following co-chair Sezai Temelli's popular meeting in the city.
The HDP also reported obstacles and attacks against Republican People's Party (CHP), Iyi Party, and Saadet Party in several cities.
On May 4, the HDP officially nominated imprisoned former co-leader Selahattin Demirtas to run for president in the Turkey’s snap election on June 24.
The Turkish High Electoral Board has approved Demirtas’ candidacy and he is running his presidential campaign from behind bars.
Demirtas has been held in the Edirne Prison since November 2016. He is charged with links to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and faces up to 142 years in prison if convicted. Demirtas has denied the charges.
(NRT)