Detention of Turkey’s HDP party members and the reaction from the European Commission

Author (Corporate)
Series Title
Series Details 04.11.16
Publication Date 04/11/2016
Content Type

Several members of parliament of the pro-Kurdish HDP party were arrested in Turkey on 4 November 2016. The two joint leaders of the party were amongst those detained, allegedly due to their reluctance to give testimony for crimes linked to 'terrorist propaganda'.

The EU showed its concern over the detention of HDP members on charges alleging support of terrorist activities, highlighting their status as democratically elected representatives and once again condemning the lifting of their parliamentary immunity.

The HDP is the third largest party of Turkey's Parliament.

As these detentions unfolded, a widespread difficulty in reaching social media websites was also reported across the country, and namely in its southeast region.

The arrest of the Kurdish politicians in Turkey was seen as a part of a dual military and political strategy to crush the Kurds.

On the 6 November 2016 the HDP said it was 'halting its legislative efforts' as a protest and would no longer take part in general assembly sittings.

Source Link https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/14039/
Related Links
ESO: Background information: Turkey removes two dozen elected mayors in Kurdish militant crackdown http://www.europeansources.info/record/turkey-removes-two-dozen-elected-mayors-in-kurdish-militant-crackdown/
ESO: Background information: The exclusion of the pro-Kurd HDP in post-coup Turkey http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-exclusion-of-the-pro-kurd-hdp-in-post-coup-turkey/
EurActiv, 04.11.16: Turkey arrests leaders of pro-Kurdish HDP party http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/turkey-arrests-leaders-of-pro-kurdish-hdp-party/
The Wall Street Journal, 03.11.16: Turkey Detains Top Kurdish Opposition Leaders http://www.wsj.com/articles/turkey-detains-top-kurdish-opposition-leaders-1478225157?tesla=y
TRT World, 04.11.16: Police detain co-chairpersons of HDP in ongoing investigation http://www.trtworld.com/turkey/police-detain-co-chairpersons-of-hdp-in-ongoing-investigation-220825
BBC News, 04.11.16: Turkey HDP: Blast after pro-Kurdish leaders Demirtas and Yuksekdag detained http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-37868441
The Guardian, 04.11.16: Turkey arrests pro-Kurdish party leaders amid claims of internet shutdown https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/04/turkey-arrests-pro-kurdish-party-leaders-mps
Euronews, 04.11.16: Arrests leave a 'dark stain' on Turkey's history - HDP http://www.euronews.com/2016/11/04/arrests-leave-a-dark-stain-on-turkey-s-history-hdp
Deutsche Welle, 04.11.16: Southeastern Turkey hit by blast after HDP crackdown http://dw.com/p/2S7tq
Deutsche Welle, 03.11.16: Turkish police detain at least 15 top officials from pro-Kurdish HDP leadership http://dw.com/p/2S7mA
EUObserver, 04.11.16: EU-Turkey relations plunge to new low https://euobserver.com/foreign/135773
Politico, 04.11.16: EU ‘extremely worried’ over Turkey opposition arrests http://www.politico.eu/article/turkish-opposition-leaders-arrested-terror-charges-peoples-democratic-party/
EurActiv, 04.11.16: Commission, member states admonish Turkey over Kurdish arrests http://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/commission-member-states-admonish-turkey-over-kurdish-arrests/
Deutsche Welle, 06.11.16: Arrest of Kurdish politicians in Turkey threatens further upheaval http://dw.com/p/2S9td
Deutsche Welle, 06.11.16: European envoys summoned as Turkey's political crisis deepens http://dw.com/p/2SESU
Politico, 06.11.16: Kurdish party suspends activity in Turkish parliament http://www.politico.eu/article/kurdish-party-suspends-activity-in-turkish-parliament/
Hürriyet Daily News, 06.11.16: President Erdoğan: I don’t care if they call me a dictator http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/president-erdogan-i-dont-care-if-they-call-me-a-dictator.aspx?pageID=238&nID=105806&NewsCatID=338
EUObserver, 04.11.16: EU willing to keep contact with Turkey https://euobserver.com/foreign/135778
Euro|Topics: Debates, November 2016: What can stop Erdoğan now? http://www.eurotopics.net/en/169058/what-can-stop-erdogan-now
Council of the European Union: Press Release: 08.11.16: Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the latest developments in Turkey http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2016/11/08-hr-declaration-turkey/
EurActiv, 21.02.17: Turkey’s pro-Kurdish opposition appeals to European court over detentions http://www.euractiv.com/section/all/news/turkeys-pro-kurdish-opposition-appeals-to-european-court-over-detentions/

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Record URL https://www.europeansources.info/record/?p=498699