The police attacked a picnic in Istanbul held on the occasion of Abdullah Öcalan’s birthday on April 4, injuring several people. Four people were detained, including Sebahat Tuncel, a former member of parliament and an activist of the Kurdish women’s movement TJA. It is still unclear what specific charges the detentions are based on. The police did not provide any information on the detentions.
The event on Sunday was organized by the platform of democratic institutions and took place in the Küçükçekmece district. In the early morning hours, many women, children, and young people gathered to mark April 4 together.
Despite a heavy police presence, the participants began the picnic and set up seating and dining areas. Shortly afterward, police units stormed into the crowd and used force against the participants. Several people were beaten and injured, and children were also affected by the situation.
In addition, police officers destroyed parts of the picnic setup by stepping on the prepared food and seating areas. After protests from the participants, the police units eventually withdrew. The picnic was then continued.
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