Kurdish supporters who live in France, chant slogans and display Kurdisk flags during a rally to protest against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, at Republique Square in Paris, Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016. Authorities in Turkey detained 11 pro-Kurdish lawmakers early Friday as part of ongoing terror-related investigations, including both party co-chairs Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag and other senior officials, the Interior Ministry said. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
The Associated Press
PARIS (AP) - Thousands of protesters have marched in Paris to protest Turkey's detention of a pro-Kurdish party's leaders amid a widening crackdown on opposition figures by the government of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The demonstrators, most members of France's Kurdish community, gathered in the Place de la Republique on Saturday and walked through the city to the Place du Chatelet. Waving Kurdish flags, they held banners reading "Stop Erdogan" and called for the release of those arrested.
Turkish authorities have arrested the two co-chairs of the People's Democratic Party, or HDP, and several other party lawmakers for alleged ties to Kurdish militants. The move drew concern from the U.S. and the European Union.
Turkey accuses the HDP of being the political arm of outlawed Kurdish rebels, an accusation the party rejects.
A Kurdish woman sends photos with her phone during a rally to protest against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, at Republique Square in Paris, Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016. Authorities in Turkey detained 11 pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) lawmakers early Friday as part of ongoing terror-related investigations, including both party co-chairs Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag and other senior officials, the Interior Ministry said. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
The Associated Press
A Kurdish demonstrator holds a flag featuring kurdish PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan during a rally to protest against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, at Republique Square in Paris, Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016Authorities in Turkey detained 11 pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) lawmakers early Friday as part of ongoing terror-related investigations, including both party co-chairs Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag and other senior officials, the Interior Ministry said. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
The Associated Press
A flag featuring Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is displayed during a rally to protest against his policies, at Republique Square in Paris, Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016. Authorities in Turkey detained 11 pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) lawmakers early Friday as part of ongoing terror-related investigations, including both party co-chairs Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag and other senior officials, the Interior Ministry said. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
The Associated Press
Kurdish women hold PKK flags during a rally to protest against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, at Republique Square in Paris, Saturday, Nov. 5, 2016. Authorities in Turkey detained 11 pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) lawmakers early Friday as part of ongoing terror-related investigations, including both party co-chairs Selahattin Demirtas and Figen Yuksekdag and other senior officials, the Interior Ministry said. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)
The Associated Press