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.