Newly emerged video footages shows the moment Turkish police used water cannons to disperse scores of Kurds attending to a public rally organized by the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) in Van ahead of June 24 snap presidential and parliamentary elections.
Samira Ghaderi, a lawyer, posted several videos on Twitter late late on Saturday with notes that read: “Reports of Turkish police firing water cannon & tear gas to disperse supporters of the pro-Kurdish HDP in Van” and “Turkish police attack Kurdish men, women, & children after pro-HDP election rally in Van.”
In a related development, Ankara police on Saturday detained some 400 HDP and Peoples’ Democratic Congress (HDK) officials, including polling station representatives, part of an investigation into the alleged “planning of provocative actions” during elections on Sunday.
There's a claim here that over 400 HDP ballot box observers have been detained. If anyone sees an official HDP announcement on this please share. https://t.co/iUmgIKcLp6
— Ankaralı Jan (@06JAnk) June 23, 2018
Turkish police attack Kurdish men, women, & children after pro-HDP election rally in Van | #TurkeyElections pic.twitter.com/BfLYFYkynL
— Samira Ghaderi (@Samira_Ghaderi) June 23, 2018
Reports of Turkish police firing water cannon & tear gas to disperse supporters of the pro-Kurdish HDP in Van | #Surprise #TurkeyElections #HDP pic.twitter.com/5Ht5it2vM1
— Samira Ghaderi (@Samira_Ghaderi) June 23, 2018
Pro-Kurdish HDP supporters under attack in Van by Turkish police | #TurkeyElections #HDP pic.twitter.com/mPUJiosFQY
— Samira Ghaderi (@Samira_Ghaderi) June 23, 2018