Opposition HDP lawmakers arrested in Turkey

Opposition Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) lawmakers from the eastern province of Kars and southern province of Adana were arrested on Jan. 31, becoming the latest members of Turkey's third-largest party to be incarcerated.  

HDP Adana lawmaker Meral Danış Beştaş and Kars lawmaker and the party spokesperson Ayhan Bilgen were arrested as part of a terror probe. 

Beştaş was arrested on Jan. 31 arrested on accusations of "being a member of an armed terrorist organization."

Beştaş was previously detained on Jan. 28 as part of a terror probe but was released on condition of judicial control. After the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office objected to the release, an arrest warrant was issued for her. 

"We'll see each other soon," she said before being arrested. 

Another arrest warrant was issued for another HDP lawmaker who was detained and released previously.

Bilgen was detained early on Jan. 29 in the Esenboğa Airport in Ankara and taken to Diyarbakır. 

He was referred to court with the prosecutor demanding his arrest for "being a member of an armed terrorist organization," but he was released on condition of judicial control that included an overseas travel ban.

Bilgen, however, was detained in Diyarbakır again on Jan. 30 before being formally arrested on Jan. 31. 

Another HDP lawmaker was detained on Jan. 30 in the eastern province of Van, but was later released. HDP Van lawmaker Lezgin Botan was detained at the Ferit Melen Airport over a detention warrant issued by Van 2nd Court of Serious Crimes.

Botan was accused of "making terror propaganda," "inciting crime" and being a member of "an armed terrorist organization," with the prosecutor demanding 40 years in prison. He...