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Turkey issues arrest warrants for 82 over pro-Kurdish protests Turkey issues arrest warrants for 82 over pro-Kurdish protests
(about 3 hours later)
Mayor among those wanted for unspecified offences during 2014 protests sparked by Isis seizure of KobaneMayor among those wanted for unspecified offences during 2014 protests sparked by Isis seizure of Kobane
Turkish authorities have issued arrest warrants for 82 people, including a mayor, over pro-Kurdish protests six years ago, officials and local media said. Turkish authorities have issued arrest warrants for 82 people, including a mayor, over pro-Kurdish protests six years ago, officials and local media have said.
The warrants relate to October 2014 protests in Turkey sparked by the seizure of the mainly Kurdish-Syrian town of Kobane by Islamic State (Isis) fighters. The warrants relate to October 2014 protests in Turkey sparked by the seizure of the mainly Kurdish-Syrian town of Kobane by Islamic State fighters.
The Ankara chief public prosecutor’s office said in a statement that police were on the hunt for the 82 suspects in the Turkish capital and six other provinces. The Ankara chief public prosecutor’s office said the police were on the hunt for the suspects in the Turkish capital and six other provinces.
The prosecutor’s office did not specify what offences the 82 are alleged to have committed. The office did not specify what offences the 82 people were alleged to have committed. But it said crimes committed during the protests included murder, attempted murder, theft, damaging property, looting, burning the Turkish flag and injuring 326 security officials and 435 citizens.
But it said crimes committed during the protests included murder, attempted murder, theft, damaging property, looting, burning the Turkish flag and injuring 326 security officials and 435 citizens.
There was also a warrant for the mayor of the eastern city of Kars, Ayhan Bilgen, Hurriyet daily reported.There was also a warrant for the mayor of the eastern city of Kars, Ayhan Bilgen, Hurriyet daily reported.
Bilgen won local elections in the city in 2019 representing the pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic party (HDP), Turkey’s second-largest opposition group in the parliament.Bilgen won local elections in the city in 2019 representing the pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic party (HDP), Turkey’s second-largest opposition group in the parliament.
Of a total of 65 HDP mayors returned in those elections, 47 have now been replaced by unelected officials, with some detained on terror charges, the party said last month.Of a total of 65 HDP mayors returned in those elections, 47 have now been replaced by unelected officials, with some detained on terror charges, the party said last month.
The Turkish government accuses the HDP of being a political front for the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ party – which has waged an insurgency against the state since 1984 – but the party denies this.The Turkish government accuses the HDP of being a political front for the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ party – which has waged an insurgency against the state since 1984 – but the party denies this.
Former HDP co-leaders, Figen Yüksekdağ and Selahattin Demirtaş, were named in the investigation but both have been in jail since 2016 pending multiple trials. The former HDP co-leaders Figen Yüksekdağ and Selahattin Demirtaş were named in the investigation but both have been in jail since 2016 pending multiple trials.
The government accused the HDP of encouraging people to take part in the protests across Turkey that left 37 dead. The government accused the HDP of encouraging people to take part in the protests across Turkey that left 37 dead. But the HDP blames the police for the violence.
But the HDP blames Turkish police for the violence.