BDP rally to support hunger strikes banned in Diyarbakır

BDP rally to support hunger strikes banned in Diyarbakır

ISTANBUL

DHA Photo

Tension has escalated in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır after the city government banned a rally planned by the Kurdish issue-focusedPeace and Democracy Party (BDP) to support hunger strikers entering their 53th day of fasting today, daily Hürriyet reported.

BDP deputies staged a sit-in protest in front of the Diyarbakır Governorship building after the rally was prevented. The governorship carried out the ban for all the streets and avenues of the city.

"This is a declaration of martial law," BDP co-chair Gültan Kışanak said. "This is the firsttime I have ever faced such a decision. We will break this repressivemindset."

"It is unacceptable,"Kışanak added. "If we accept, they will banus from breathing tomorrow."

Police also prevented a group of people from approaching the deputies and detained some of them.