Dozens arrested in Turkey, including former HDP officials and Syrian refugees

ANKARA — Media outlets reported that Turkish authorities have arrested 46 people, including former local officials of the opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (Halkların Demokratik Partisi, HDP), former deputy mayors, former HDP treasurers, and former members of the party.

The Turkish government has arrested dozens of legislators and elected HDP mayors, including the two former Co-Chairs Selahattin Demirtaş and Figen Yüksekdağ, in addition to thousands of other HDP members, in a concerted effort to repress its political opponents. The arbitrary arrests of political opponents has sparked condemnation inside and outside Turkey.

In related news, local sources indicated that Turkish security forces had arrested 15 Syrian refugees who were demonstrating in front of the Immigration Department headquarters in Khaliliya after they were prevented from completing immigration procedures.

Syrian refugees in Turkey are exposed to various types of crimes and racial discrimination, according to human rights organizations. The Turkish government has recently increased restrictions on Syrian refugees, in addition to using them to pressure European countries.