The two co-leaders of HDP – Peoples’ Democratic Party, Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ were both detained this past night, at their homes, alongside with 11 Turkish MPs who were also taken into custody.

According to the reports of state-run Anadolu Agency, a warrant has been issued for the arrest of HDP MPs in reference to lifting of immunity of parliamentarians from prosecution. As also reported, the reason for their arrest is in reference to their participation in the Democratic Society Congress (DTK), KCK, and October 6-8 incidents.

These events followed a raide by the police to the HDP headquarters in Ankara and an internet shutdown that cut the access to social media in some parts of the country.

The Party of the European Left stands together with the Kurdish and Turkish people and calls for the immediate release of the two co-leaders of HDP, as well as all the 11 MPs arrested so far. We also urge the European Union to take action, politically and economically, against Erdogan’s regime, which is using the state of emergency to crash his opposition in a clear attack to democracy and peace.