Authorities detained dozens in simultaneous raids across several Turkish cities, including Diyarbak?r (Amed) and ?stanbul on Tuesday morning. Among those held are journalists, activists, and political figures, sparking concerns about targeting dissent. The reasons behind these arrests remain unclear.
Turkish police detained dozens of individuals in coordinated house raids across multiple cities on Tuesday, including Diyarbak?r (Amed), ?stanbul, Mardin (Mêrdîn), and Ankara, as part of an escalating crackdown on journalists, activists, and political figures. Authorities have yet to provide a comprehensive explanation for the arrests, fuelling speculation about the targeting of dissenting voices.
In Diyarbak?r, Kayap?nar (Peyas) Co-Mayor Cengiz Dündar, Mezopotamya Women Journalists’ Association (MKG) President Roza Metina, journalist Ahmet Sümbül, director Ardin Diren, and several teachers affiliated with the Education and Science Workers’ Union (E?itim-Sen) were detained.
?stanbul police arrested prominent journalists Erdo?an Alayumat and Bilge Aksu, as well as Nimet Tanr?kulu, a founding member of the Human Rights Association (?HD). Senior members of the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party, including Co-Deputy Chairperson Sevtap Akda?, were also apprehended, alongside other party officials. Officials indicated these arrests were linked to an Eski?ehir-based investigation.
In Çanakkale, DEM Party Gökçeada Co-Chair Bedirhan ?eker and youth activists were among those detained, with the rationale for their arrests not disclosed. Similar detentions occurred in Batman (Êlih), where journalist Mehmet Uçar was taken into custody.
Mardin’s Artuklu (Ertuqî) district saw the detention of nine family members, including five individuals with the surname ?imdi, reportedly connected to recent protests against state-appointed trustees replacing elected officials.
Several individuals were detained both in ??rnak (?irnex)’s Cizre (Cizîr) district and ?anl?urfa (Riha). Allegations surfaced that during a raid in ?anl?urfa’s Bozova (Hewag) district, the mother of a wanted individual was physically assaulted.
In Tunceli (Dêrsim), Mersin, Adana, and Izmir, further arrests targeted union leaders, lawyers, and Socialist Youth Associations Federation (SGDF) members. Notable names include lawyer ?iar Ri?vano?lu, SGDF member Sezgin Zevkibol, and trade union leader Kemal Göksoy.
Dozens of activists detained in Turkey as police raids target multiple cities
