HDP member kidnapped and threatened by the police in Ankara

The Ankara Provincial Organization of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) held a press conference in response to the kidnapping of the party’s Sincan District Co-chair Fatma Kılıçarslan. Tülay Hatimoğulları, Deputy of the HDP in Adana, and members from political parties and democratic mass organizations attended the press conference, which was held at the HDP Provincial Organization office.

Perihan Pakize Sinemillioğlu, HDP Ankara Provincial Co-Chair, stated at the meeting that Kılıçarslan was taken away by the police while she was leaving work during the daytime.

‘YOU WILL FIND YOURSELF IN JARABLUS!’

Sharing her experiences, Kılıçarslan stated that she left work to go home on September 8 and told, “After a short distance, a white vehicle stopped in front of us, and they informed me that they were police and that they would take me to the police station for a statement. When I tried to call my lawyer, they took my phone and attempted to force me into the car. When I asked for help, the shopkeepers nearby rushed to help. A shopkeeper got inside the car and snatched the key, preventing them from starting it. That person was also beaten by the police. The kidnappers then showed the people who came to aid me their police IDs. Then they dispersed the individuals who had come to help and forced me into the car.”

Kılıçarslan remarked that these people kept her in the car for around 45 minutes and subjected her to threats and insults. She claimed that the police officers who kidnapped her made threats like,  “From now on, we will make Ankara unbearable for you. The next time, you might open your eyes in Jarablus, you might find yourself naked on a mountain top!”

Deputy Hatimoğulları said, “The women’s movement did not and will not give up on these threats.”