DEM Party Malazgirt Co-Mayors detained: Due to a 'braided hair banner'

DEM Party Malazgirt Co-Mayors Ahmet Kenan Türker and Gülistan Özel of Muş have been detained. It was reported that the co-mayors were taken into custody following a raid on their homes and were brought to the district police department.

It was learned that the reason for the detention, within the scope of an investigation launched by the Malazgirt Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, was a banner hung on the municipal building against attacks on Northern and Eastern Syria, which featured braided hair and the slogan “Jin, jiyan, azadî” (Woman, life, freedom).

The co-mayors are expected to provide their statements.

STATEMENT FROM DEM PARTY

A statement regarding the detentions was issued by the DEM Party Democratic Local Governments.

The statement included the following expressions:

“The attacks occurring in Rojava in recent days have reached worrying dimensions for all our people. The fact that these attacks are carried out through women's bodies is a clear indicator of a reactionary and dark mentality.

During this process, hanging banners on our municipal buildings featuring figures representing women's braided hair and the words JIN JIYAN AZADÎ has been one of our ways of expressing our reactions.

Despite our democratic reactions, the unlawful attitudes of law enforcement and judicial mechanisms have once again been exposed during this process. The detention of our Malazgirt Co-Mayors Gülistan Özel and Ahmet Kenan Türker on the grounds of the banners hung is unacceptable to us.

If a culprit is to be sought, one should look at the structures committing crimes against humanity in Rojava. For this reason, our co-mayors, who expressed their democratic reaction, should be released immediately and these unlawful practices must be ended.”

News Source: 12punto