Hüda Kaya

Turkish riot police. Photo: EPA-EFE/SEDAT SUNA

The Interior Ministry said on February 15 in a written statement: "718 people including the presidents of HDP district and city branches were detained as part of operations against the PKK's operations in the country. Detentions are still underway."

The opposition Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) has started its "conscience and justice watch" in Istanbul's Kadıköy district with the participation of several lawmakers. 

The Kurdish issue-focused HDP started its watch on Aug. 1 in Kadıköy's Yoğurtçu Park after spending a week in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır. 

Kurdish issue-focused Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) spokesperson and Kars deputy Ayhan Bilgen was released on Jan. 29 after being briefly detained by police in the Turkish capital Ankara.
  

Turkey's opposition Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) spokesperson and Kars deputy Ayhan Bilgen was detained early on Jan. 29 at Ankara Esenboğa Airport as he was set to fly to Istanbul. 

Bilgen tweeted about his detention and said he was told he would be taken to the southeastern province of Diyarbakır. 

The son of an opposition lawmaker has reportedly been subjected to torture after being detained by police during a protest he took part in with his mother Hüda Kaya, an MP of the Kurdish issue-focused Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP).