Turkey: Police turn water cannons on HDP supporters in Diyarbakir

W/S Supporters of pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic Party (HDP) hit by water cannon, Diyarbakir
M/S HDP supporters hit by water cannons
M/S HDP supporters hit by water cannons
M/S HDP supporters hit by water cannons
M/S HDP MP Ayse Acar Basaran being carried away
W/S Police running and hitting supporters with batons
C/U Police using batons
W/S Men hit by water cannon
M/S Police gathered with water cannons firing
W/S Police gathered and water cannon trucks
M/S HDP supporters walking past police
M/S Co-Chairman of the HDP Sezai Temelli walking and doing peace sign
W/S Police hitting HDP supporters with batons
M/S Water cannons firing
C/U Protesters clashing with police
M/S Water cannon firing on HDP supporters
W/S Water cannon firing
W/S Police moving in
W/S Police moving in
SCRIPT
Police clashed with supporters of the pro-Kurdish People’s Democratic Party (HDP) in Diyarbakir on Tuesday.
Footage shows riot police using high powered water cannons to disperse supporters of the HDP, and also police beating protesters with batons. Media reports say HDP Politician Ayse Acar Basaran was injured during the confrontation with police.
Supporters gathered to join Co-Chairman of the HDP Sezai Temelli as he was due to read a statement in front of the city’s administrative offices denouncing the removal from office on Monday of the HDP Mayor of Diyarbakir Adnan Selcuk Mizrakli.
Two other mayors in the cities of Van and Mardin were also removed from their posts on Monday, all are members of the HDP, which is accused by Turkish authorities of having ties to the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK), a group that is outlawed in Turkey as a terrorist organisation.
Reportedly, at least 418 people have also been detained for their alleged links to the PKK.
According to a statement from the Turkish Ministry of the Interior, as reported in the media, the mayoral posts will be taken over by the governors of each respective state who are appointed by the central Turkish government.