At least 55 detained for attending Newroz celebrations in western provinces
Turkish police have detained at least 55 people in the western provinces of İzmir and Tekirdağ over participating in Newroz celebrations.
Duvar English
Turkish police on March 25 detained at least 45 people in the western province of İzmir over their March 20 attendance in Newroz celebrations, Mezopotamya News Agency reported.
Detention warrants were issued for 59 people on the grounds that they “conducted propaganda for terrorist organizations” and unfurled the poster of jailed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan.
Out of the sought 59 people, 45 of them were detained following house raids.
Separately, the police on March 25 detained another 10 people in the northwestern province of Tekirdağ again over their participation in the Newroz celebrations. Within the scope of the investigation initiated by the Tekirdağ Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the detainnes were accused of “conducting propaganda for terrorist organizations.”
Thousands gathered across several provinces in Turkey to celebrate the Kurdish New Year Newroz on March 20, marking the arrival of spring. In the southeastern province of Diyarbakır, 298 people were detained and one was arrested by a court order.