Turkish authorities have taken action against artists who gathered in front of the French Consulate in Istanbul to pay tribute to three Kurdish citizens murdered in Paris on Friday.

Following the call of the HDK (Peoples’ Democratic Congress) Cultural Commission, the Mesopotamia Cultural Centre, BEKSAV and the Gölge Kültür, artists gathered outside the Consulate, accompanied by HDP Deputy Musa Piroğlu.

The group was blockaded by the police citing an arbitrary ban issued by the district governor. Press members were forcibly removed from the area and many people were taken into custody.

HDP Deputy Musa Piroğlu reacted to the arbitrary detention of the protestors and made a statement in front of the Consulate.

Pointing to the ongoing targeted attacks and massacres against the Kurds in various parts of the world, Piroğlu said: “We wanted to make a press statement in front of the French consulate today to protest the killings in Paris. However, just as the police in France could not prevent the killings and released the murderer, the police here continue to prevent protests against the massacre. Governments all over the world are doing the same thing. Murderers walk down the streets freely, but protesting massacres is banned. The French government will be guilty as long as it fails to expose those responsible. Moreover, the French government will be complicit in the massacre if it does not call those responsible for the massacre to account.”

Piroğlu continued: “We are waiting for the days to bring the murderers to account. We did not and will never give up in the face of these massacres.”

The HDP MP emphasized that the Turkish police intervention in the gathering was completely unlawful. “They want no one's voice heard on the streets of the country. And if we remain silent and agree to this blockade, it will take over the whole country. It seems that this government will also hold the upcoming election under a blockade. But they should know that we will tear down this blockade and the government.”