23 held in Turkey for promoting terror on social media

By Mahmut Bazlama, Sergen Sezgin and Emre Evren

GAZIANTEP, Turkey

A total of 23 suspects have been held across three Turkish provinces since Tuesday on charges of promoting terrorism on social media websites, according to police sources.

Seven suspects were arrested in southeastern Gaziantep province on Tuesday for sharing posts that allegedly praised the PKK terrorist organization. Another seven suspects were remanded in custody on Monday over similar charges, a police source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, said.

Five other people were arrested over the same allegations in northwestern Bursa province Wednesday, another police source, who also spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, said.

Also, four more suspects were detained in southeastern Adiyaman province on Wednesday for promoting the terrorist organization on social media sites, the source added.

Last month, 13 HDP lawmakers were arrested and 10 others, including Co-Chairs Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag, remain in custody awaiting trial on terrorism-related charges.

The lawmakers face prosecution under anti-terrorism legislation after their parliamentary immunity was lifted earlier this year.

The government has accused the HDP of being linked to the PKK, which is listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S., and EU.