ANKARA - Diyadin Municipality's driver, Mehmet Hayri Oruç, was harassed by the police while entering the building. Co-mayors Evren Demir and Betül Yaşar intervened and were beaten and handcuffed by dozens of police officers. HDP made a statement regarding the issue and stating that this is a planned move of the government and that they will be following up the process.
Co-mayor Demir was taken to hospital after been hit in the head by police. Demir was kicked and hancdcuffed to the ground.
Co-mayor Betül Yaşar was also hit with a police baton. After the incident, the police confiscated the images taken by the municipality. Co-mayor Evren Demir said: “They beat our driver. We tried to stop the police. Then they beat us."
People's Democratic Party Co-spokesperson Selahattin Aslan said: "The fact that there were hundreds of police around the municipality building prior to the incident shows that this is not a random incident but a planned move of the government that wants to usurp our municipalities. It is obvious that the x-ray device and the police checkpoints that they want to place in the municipal buildings for security reasons are not made with security concerns. With this application, which is intended to be implemented, the bond between our municipalities and our people is to be weakened.