“404 Citizens” who comprise intellectuals, writers, human rights activists and lawyers have signed a statement (‘Call for democracy and justice’) criticising the operations against the People’s Democratic Party (HDP). They have also made an appeal to unite around the HDP.

The signatories state: “All opposition intellectuals and politicians who have been unjustly imprisoned should be released immediately. Mayors, academics and politicians from HDP were detained on the grounds of the ‘Kobani protests’ six years ago.

“It is neither a crime to protest the attack against Kobani, nor to conduct political studies based on the Kurdish issue, nor to express their opinions. We call out to power: stop this policy of repression immediately. It buries the country in darkness and will last for years. We call out to the opposition: Stand together around democracy against this unlawfulness. All intellectuals and politicians who were imprisoned must be released immediately. We writers do not lose our hope for tomorrow, despite all this darkness. We protect our country’s present and future for freedom and democracy”.