United States of America (USA) citizen journalist Jake Hess was detained yesterday (11 August) around 17.45 by police officers of the Diyarbakir Police Department's Anti-Terrorism Branch.

Hess was detained on allegations that he is "aiding PKK" and that his name was in the "KCK Indictment." It is reported that he may be deported.

IHD Diyarbakir: He did not work with us, he just used to come round

IHD Diyarbakir Branch officials, who spoke to bianet, rejected allegations that Hess was doing translations for them. "He did not work with us. He just used to come round as a journalist," said the officials.

Hess' lawyer Serkan Akbas confirmed to bianet that the journalist has been detained within the scope of the KCK file. The KCK trial is scheduled to begin on 18 October. He believes that news reports on the burning down of the forests in the region, the evacuation of the villages and bombing of certain Kurdish settlements by the Turkish Armed Forces by Hess, may have played a role. Akbas said Hess was working for the Inter Press Service (IPS).

The prosecutor has prohibited Hess from seeing his lawyer for 24 hours. Akbas stated that this may be extended to 48 hours because the accusations against him are within the scope of Heavy Penalty. He added that Hess may appear before the judge on 13 August. (EO/EA)