HDP politician Sevim Akdağ arrested in Edirne

Kurdish activist Sevim Akdağ has been arrested in western Turkey. The co-spokeswoman of the HDP Youth Council is accused of violating police registration requirements. Akdağ had been in police custody in Edirne since last Friday. She has since been transferred to the province’s women’s prison.

Sevim Akdağ was only released from a prison in Ankara at the end of June after almost five months in pre-trial detention. She is charged with “directing a terrorist organization”. The incriminated organization is the youth association of the HDP, the second largest opposition party in the Turkish parliament. She was ordered to report to the police on June 29 in return for her release from custody.

In addition, Sevim Akdağ is one of more than 450 HDP politicians who face a ban on political activity in the proceedings to ban the party. She is expected to remain in prison for the time being. Meanwhile, it is unclear when the trial pending in Ankara will continue.