Turkey continues crackdown on HDP, arrests Kars Co-Mayor Şevin Alaca

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Turkey’s crackdown on the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) continued on Oct. 8, with the court ordering the arrest of four party members in the eastern province of Kars, including Co-Mayor Şevin Alaca, Mezopotamya news agency reported.

The fresh arrests came after Kars Co-Mayor Ayhan Bilgen was arrested last week over 2014 Kobane protests.

As part of an investigation launched by Kars Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, the police raided the houses of 21 HDP members, including Şevin Alaca, on Oct. 1. Some of them have been since kept under detention, whereas some others have been arrested by a court order.

Theinterrogation of five HDP members continued until Oct. 8. Aftergiving their statements at the prosecutor's office, deputy mayorMuazzez Çağrıtekinci was released while Şevin Alaca, HDP Karsprovincial co-chair Cengiz Anlı, Mustafa Yardımcıer and ŞengülErkmen were arrested with a court order.

Withthese latest arrests, the number of people who have been arrestedwithin the framework of the relevant investigation rose to 16.

With this operation on the HDP, members of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and its ally Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) might hold the majority in the municipal council.

The HDP governs many provinces in the southeast of Turkey and typically appoints one male and one female co-mayor to promote gender equality.

Turkey continues crackdown on HDP, detains co-mayor, party members in Kars