55 detained in Van questioned about protests after local elections

55 people were detained in dawn house raids conducted in the city of Van. They were reportedly questioned about the protests that started after electoral authorities overturned the election of a pro-Kurdish mayoral candidate in the city of Van.

News Center- Turkish police and gendarmerie conducted dawn house raids in the city of Van and its districts on Monday, detaining 55 people. 55 people have been held at the Van Police Department for two days and a confidentiality order has been issued on the investigation launched against them.

According to the received reports, some of the detained people were questioned at the police department last night and they are expected to be referred to the courthouse today. Dilgeş Aslan, Spokesperson of the Peoples' Democracy and Equality Party (DEM Party) at the Van Metropolitan Municipality Council, and Ferhat Aslan, theater actor of ŞanoWan, are among those detained.

Questions on protests

According to the lawyers of the detained people, the detained people were questioned about the protests that took place in Van after electoral authorities overturned the election of a pro-Kurdish mayoral candidate from April 3 to April 4, 2024. At the police department, they were asked why they had participated in the protests and from whom they had received instructions to participate in the protests.