Reactions against the arrest of 30 people, including political party representatives, trade unionists, journalists, artists and lawyers, who were detained on 18 February as part of an investigation launched by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office are continuing.

Political parties, including the Labour Party (EMEP), the DEM Party, the Workers' Party of Turkey (TİP), the Socialist Refoundation Party (SYKP), the Workers' Movement Party (EHP), Halkevleri, the Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) and the Democratic Regions Party (DBP) reacted to the arrests with written statements on their social media accounts.

EMEP: We will not surrender!

The Labour Party issued a statement on the arrests, including Istanbul Provincial Chair Sema Barbaros: 'We will not surrender to the government's oppression and tyranny! As the Labour Party, we call upon all workers and labourers, trade unions, professional organisations, pro-work and pro-freedom democratic forces and political parties to fight together to intensify the struggle for democracy, peace, work and bread.

DEM party: Judiciary carrying out political activities on behalf of the government

“The judiciary is carrying out political activities on behalf of the government,' the DEM party said in a statement, adding, 'We will not allow the country to be dragged into the abyss. Our party will put an end to this course. We say it again: Stop the conspiracy trials. Release our friends you are holding hostage in prisons and illegally arresting”.

SYKP: Conspiracies did not and will not work

“30 socialists, patriots and democrats including our comrades Mehmet Saltoğlu, Halit Elçi, Ahmet Saymadi and Kardelen Taş have been arrested as a result of the conspiracy operations of the AKP-MHP fascist power bloc. This decision is a power-driven decision against millions of people who are fighting for equality, freedom and justice and whose hearts beat for democracy. It is null and void in the eyes of the oppressed. Those who try to criminalise HDK through police methods will find those who say 'HDK is us' against them. Conspiracies have not and will not work. Shoulder to shoulder against fascism”.

TİP: We will raise the struggle

"The palace regime, which creates problems instead of solving them and has nothing to say to the labourers, is trying to intimidate the people with the judiciary, which it has turned into an apparatus. The operations and arrests against HDK, socialists, journalists and artists will only undermine the establishment of a real environment of peace, freedom and brotherhood in Turkey. We will raise the struggle to immediately change this government, which has no political, social and legal legitimacy, and to put an end to the lawlessness. Our imprisoned friends will definitely regain their freedom'.

EHP: We will send away the government of oppression and poverty together

'Dozens of our friends have been illegally arrested today in the HDK operation. We will not allow the political power to criminalise those who fight for labour, peace and democracy by using the judiciary as an instrument of oppression and intimidation. The political power has no hope, no solution to offer to the society. Although they try to survive with repression, we will not give up. By increasing our solidarity and standing shoulder to shoulder, we will send this government of oppression and poverty away together.

Halkevleri: Release our imprisoned friends immediately

30 people who were arrested 4 days ago as part of the HDK investigation; journalists, intellectuals, socialists were illegally arrested last night. 13 people have been placed under house arrest. Those who think that they can intimidate the growing anger of millions against impoverishment, injustice, inequality and fascism with these arrests will be defeated! We will continue to raise the people's demand for equality, freedom and a decent life, shoulder to shoulder with the search for the truth. Release our imprisoned friends immediately.

ESP: Let's defeat fascism together

'The palace judiciary has issued an arrest warrant against 30 of our comrades because of the activities of the Democratic Congress of Rights, which is the common address of the struggle of all social sections in favour of the people, the oppressed, labour, freedom, justice and equality. Let us raise the struggle for political freedom against despair, pessimism and lack of ambition, let us defeat fascism together.

DBP: 'You will not be able to destroy the hope for a common life.

"You will not be able to divide the opposition by criminalising the urban consensus, to break the people's hope for a common life with the attacks on HDK, to usurp the will of the Kurdish people and to put an obstacle to the people's struggle for democracy and freedom with the politics of oppression and violence. Against all attacks, we as peoples, women, democratic forces and oppressed will continue to stand for nature, labour, freedom, equality, peace and justice. With this principle, we will continue to insist on developing the common struggle for a democratic society in the strongest way. (EVRENSEL DAILY)