The Democracy Vigils held in Amed, Mardin and Van have continued for the 28th day in protest at the seizure of the HDP-run metropolitan municipalities in the three cities through the removal of elected mayors and their replacement by trustees.

The sit-in protest on the Lise Avenue in Amed continued under police blockade with armored vehicles, attended by many people including suspended co-mayor Selçuk Mızraklı, HDP deputies Musa Farisioğulları, Semra Güzel, Saliha Aydeniz and Mahmut Toğrul, representatives of Democratic Alevi Unions (DAD) and Pir Sultan Abdal Cultural Association.

Groups of HDP youth who gathered at the Koşuyolu Park in the central Bağlar district to march to the Lise Avenue where the sit-in takes place, were also blockaded by the police. Following talks, the crowd marched to the protest grounds without chanting slogans.

Speaking at the press statement after the daily sit-in protest, HDP Amed province branch Zeyat Ceylan stated that the AKP was making attempts of a provocation by gathering families in front of the HDP headquarters.

Speaking on behalf of HDP Youth Council, Emin Salman said that the appointment of trustees to HDP municipalities was a part of the ongoing political genocide. Salman voiced their rejection of the one-type imposition of the AKP government which -he said- does not recognize the existence of those not voting for itself.

HDP Antep MP Mahmut Toğrul criticised the Turkish newspaper Yeni Şafak (New Dawn) which held the HDP responsible for the explosion which killed 7 people, and made the party into a target.