ISTANBUL - The police, who intervened in the Justice Watch demonstration of the relatives of the prisoners, detained many people, including ETHA reporter Elif Bayburt, and resorted violence on our reporter Doğan Kaynak.

 

The relatives of the ills and the prisoners, who were held despite they served their sentences, gathered in Istanbul Kartal Square in the 24th week of the Justice Watch. Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Istanbul MP Ali Kenanoğlu and many people supported the families' protest. Kartal Square, where the announcement will be made, was besieged by the police. The relatives of the prisoners, who wanted to make a statement by walking towards the square, were surrounded by the police.

 

VIOLENCE AND DETENTION

 

The police, citing the ban decision of the district governor's office, stated that they would not allow a statement to be made. Meanwhile, the police used violence against the journalists who were following the news stories. The police, which prevented the journalists from taking pictures, removed the journalists from the area.

 

In the meantime, Aktif News Agency (ETHA) reporter Elif Bayburt, who was trying to get a video, was battered and taken into custody in reverse handcuffs. Bayburt, who was taken into custody, condemned the situation by shouting the slogan of "Free press cannot be silenced".

 

VIOLENCE TO OUR REPORTER

 

The police used violence by bending the arm of Mezopotamya Agency (MA) reporter Doğan Kaynak, who was following the news stories. Kaynak was beaten and pushed away from the area by multiple police officers.

 

 

NEARLY 20 DETENTIONS

 

It has been learned that nearly 20 people, including Fince Akman, Cemile Çiftçi, Cemile Karakaş, Kumri Akgül and HDP Kartal Co-chair Aygül Sincar, were battered and detained. Those detained were taken to the Kartal Police Department.

 

The surrounding citizens condemned the detentions. The police threatened to detain citizens who protested.

 

CONDEMNATION FROM KENANOĞLU

 

HDP Istanbul MP Ali Kenanoğlu, who condemned the detentions, said: “Press statements of the mothers in Kartal Square were blocked, detentions were made. We condemn this violence, mothers will express this violence in prisons and they will not bow down. We will not give up. Prisons have turned into torture houses, prisons have turned into death houses."