protesters in Diyarbakir, Turkey denouncing Erdogan’s repressive policies
Thousands of Turks demonstrated in southern Turkey at the city of Diyarbakir today, denouncing the policies of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and in solidarity with Turkish MP Leyla Guven, who has been on hunger strike in the Turkish prison for two months.
The demonstrators gathered in the center of the city and chanting against Erdogan’s policies, expressing their solidarity with MP Guven, who has been on hunger strike since November 8 in prison after being arrested for her opposition to and criticism of the policies of the Turkish government.
Guven’s People’s Democratic Party last week announced deterioration in her health condition to the point of life threatening status.
The Turkish president has been targeted many since the failed coup attempt in Turkey in July 2016, where the head of the party, Salahaddin Demirtash, who was arrested on charges of “leading a terrorist organization and carrying out terrorist propaganda and incitement to commit crimes”.
The failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016 led Erdogan to launch arrest campaigns to eliminate his opponents and enforcer his policies, with tens of thousands of Turks were put in prisons as part of a series of arrests took place during the period following the failed coup attempt, and expelled thousands from their jobs, and impose strict procedures on journalis and media work.
