German Left Party (Die Linke) released a statement protesting the detention of Amed Municipality Co-mayors Gültan Kışanak and Fırat Anlı.

The statement by co-chair Bernd Riexinger on behalf of Die Linke stressed that the detention of the Amed co-mayors is yet another worrying step on the way to dictatorship in Turkey.

Riexinger said numerous elected representatives and parliamentarians in Turkey are obstructed from doing their duty on the basis of shredded indictments that seek to figure these politicians as criminals.

Riexinger called upon the German government to not remain silent on this issue, to end their controversial cooperation with Turkey and to stop being accomplice to crimes.

Co-chair of the Die Linke said their solidarity with the elected representatives of HDP and DBP will continue, and reiterated their demand for freedom for all political prisoners, journalists and academics.

Riexinger also called for an immediate end to the violence committed in Kurdistan, and the withdrawal of the Turkish troops in Syria.