34 detained in operation against CHP-run Istanbul district municipalities

Turkish authorities detained 34 people, including municipal officials, in an operation against opposition CHP-run Istanbul district municipalities over allegedly “financing DHKP-C.” The detainees included former Ataşehir deputy mayor, Abdullah Der.

Duvar English

Turkish police on March 11 detained 34 people in an operation against Istanbul district municipalities run by the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP), Turkish media outlets reported.

Within the scope of the investigation, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office issued an arrest warrant for 38 people over allegedly “financing DHKP-C through tenders.”

DHKP-C, Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party-Front, is a leftist and outlawed militant group. 

The detainees included former Ataşehir deputy mayor, Abdullah Der.

After the claims that the detainees also included former Sarıyer Mayor Şükrü Genç, his press advisor stated that Genç was not detained, but “was called to testify.”

It came to light that the investigation was initiated by a secret witness testimony.

The operation involved Ataşehir, Maltepe, Sarıyer and Şişli district municipalities.

The operation became the latest in a string of judicial investigations CHP-run municipalities in Istanbul have been facing.