A court in the western Turkish metropolis of Manisa has ordered the pre-trial detention of three members of the Youth Council of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP). The activists Zahir Aslan, Hamza Aslan and Ahmet Aslan are accused of membership in a terrorist organization and terror propaganda - meaning the PKK. The decision was based on critical posts in the social media, the activists' alleged participation in demonstrations, and "digital material related to the HDP" that was allegedly confiscated by the police during house searches.

Last Monday, more than 700 people were detained in forty provinces of the country on the orders of the Interior Ministry. Among them were hundreds of HDP members, including some regional-level association leaders. The ministry justified the political extermination campaign with alleged links of the persons concerned to the PKK. Those affected are still in custody, and dozens have been remanded in custody.