Turkey's crackdown on HDP: Police prevent HDP MP from giving interview
Turkish police have prevented HDP deputy Murat Sarısaç from giving an interview, showing the extent of the crackdown on the third largest party in parliament. The footage shared by journalist Ruşen Takva showed police officers physically blocking the deputy from speaking to the media.
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Police in the eastern province of Van have prevented Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) deputy Murat Sarısaç from speaking to reporters, revealing once again the extent of the crackdown on the third largest party in parliament.
Sarısaç was beginning to give an interview to Mesopotamia Agency when a group of police officers physically blocked him so that he can't speak.
"You can't shoot here," police were heard saying in the video shared by journalist Ruşen Takva.
Sarısaç was planning to give an interview regarding the police blockade on the roads leading to HDP Van provincial headquarters.
According to Sarısaç, police cited no reason for the blockade, prompting HDP deputies Sarısaç and Muazzez Orhan to start a protest in front of the governor's office. The HDP also called on the people to attend the press statement at the site.
The prevention of the interview yet another example of the pressure applied on the HDP, of which dozens of members, including former co-chairs Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ, are currently imprisoned on charges linked to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The HDP denies having links to the group.