Turkey's opposition slams detention of students protesting lack of housing

Duvar English 

Turkey's opposition parties have slammed the detention of students who wanted to protest the lack of housing in the capital Ankara. 

A total of 90 students were detained on Dec. 12 as they sought to protest skyrocketing rent and lack of dormitories, which essentially leave them homeless. 

Upon Ankara Governor's Office's announcement that the students' protest was not allowed, police prevented students from across the country from entering the protest area and battered the demonstrators. 

"We arrived in Ankara to say that we can't find housing and that we can't make ends meet. They didn't let us enter and detained us," said the Twitter account of the "Barınamıyoruz," meaning "We can't find shelter," movement. 

Upon police prevention and scenes of police brutality, Ankara Bar Association said that some students were wounded and that the bar won't remain silent in the face of these rights violations. 

In parliament, meanwhile, opposition parties slammed ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Group Deputy Chair Mahir Ünal for defending the detentions. 

"The Ankara Governor's Office's ban is unlawful, arbitrary and a rights violation," main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) deputy Mahmut Tanal said. 

"It's not a crime to ask for a place to live. This is a democratic right. They're asking for an honorable life," he added. 

Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Group Deputy Chair Meral Danış Beştaş also criticized Ünal and said that the governor office's ban is against the constitution. 

"The students' protest was a democratic reaction. The governor is committing a crime here," she said. 

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