During spring time, when dozens of DTP leaders and members had been arrested after raids on many houses and organisations, Sebahat Tuncel, independent deputy candidate for the 3rd region of Istanbul, has been elected as deputy setting a record with more than 90.000 votes. Tuncel was arrested at a public meeting in the DTP building of Bagcilar, Istanbul, raided by the police and sent to Gebze prison under the pretext of being a member of the PKK . Tuncel has been in prison for 9 months.
When it became clear that she was elected as deputy, Tuncel was decided to be released on July 24 on the basis of §83 of the Constitution.
Tuncel was saluted by a convoy of cars and busses of the DTP of Istanbul and other cities, and by a mass of 10.000 people, among them also the ESP , EKD and SDP (Socialist Democratic Party) with victory signs, flowers and the slogans "The Kurdish people are proud of you". In a short speech Tuncel said: "Our people has given me an important duty in the struggle for democracy and peace. I believe that I will fulfill this duty as best as I can. I thank our people who voted for me." The police attacked the mass waiting for Tuncel to leave the prison by throwing gas bombs. Clashes happened for some short time.
Sebahat Tuncel has also been supported by the ESP who joined the elections with independent socialist candidates in Turkey and supported the independent candidates of the DTP in Kurdistan.