Turkey: Over 50 people arrested in peace demonstration

Turkey: Over 50 people arrested in peace demonstration
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"No to war, to occupation and to expansionist policies, we want peace, now" read one of the banners in the peace protest in Istanbul

A peace demonstration in Istanbul, led by the Women's Branch of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) and Peace Mothers, was targeted by the police on Thursday. More than 50 demonstrators were arrested, +Gercek reported.

A large group gathered in Istanbul's Kadikoy square to protest against the Turkish administration's policies of war and aggression. The group was quickly encircled by the police who also cordoned off the area with barricades, forcibly moved reporters out of the area and prevented them from taking images.

The police attacked with tear gas to stop a public statement, and arrested over 50 people when the group began to march.

The demonstrators refused to leave the area despite arrests, and chanted, "Do not block peace! The peoples want peace, the Justice and Development Party wants war!"

Some of the banners in Kurdish and Turkish read, "Women, life, peace", "No to war, to occupation and to expansionist policies, we want peace, now", "Freedom for the Kurds, peace for the Middle East."

The 1 September demonstration marks one of the largest protests held after the intensification of Turkey's military actions in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) and Northern Syria.

About the Peace Mothers

The Peace Mothers is a women’s peace and civil rights movement in Turkey, which promotes a democratic and peaceful solution to the Kurdish Question and struggles for an end to armed conflict between the Turkish military and Kurdish fighters.