Istanbul
By Cihan Demirci
EDIRNE, Turkey
The co-chair of Turkey's opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), Selahattin Demirtas, was put behind bars late Friday after being remanded in custody in a terror investigation.
Demirtas was taken to the western Edirne province from Diyarbakir in the southeast where he was remanded after failing to answer a summons linked to a counter-terrorism investigation, according to judicial sources who spoke on condition of anonymity.
He is currently being held at the Edirne F-Type prison.
Prosecutors ordered the arrest of party co-chairs
The detentions were carried out in Ankara, Diyarbakir, Hakkari, Van, Sirnak and Bingol provinces.
In addition to the co-chairs, the party's parliamentary group leader, Idris Baluken, Diyarbakır Deputy Nursel Aydogan, Sirnak Deputies Leyla Birlik and Ferhat
Diyarbakir Deputies Ziya Pir and Imam
An arrest warrant for Hakkari Deputy Nihat Akdogan is also out.
The lawmakers face prosecution under anti-terrorism laws after their parliamentary immunity was lifted earlier this year.
Lawmakers from other parties have also been summoned
Among the
Demirtas and other HDP figures urged residents to take to the streets. The ensuing week of violent demonstrations left dozens of people dead, including two police officers and saw hundreds of people injured.
The government has accused the HDP of having links to the PKK, which is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the