New Arrests in Ergenekon Investigation

The Deputy Chair of the Labour Party (İP), Mehmet Bedri Gültekin, party leader assistant Erkan Önsel, National Channel General Publications Director Turan Özlü and Mehmet Perinçek, Researcher at the Istanbul University (İÜ) were arrested in the scope of the Ergenekon investigation by a court on duty on Tuesday (23 August). On Friday (19 August) they had been taken into police custody in the context of the investigation into the clandestine Ergenekon terrorist organization charged with the attempt to overthrow the government.

National Channel reporter İlyas Gümrükçü, Aydınlık newspaper employees Ruhsar Şenoğlu, Özlem Konur Usta, Mehmet Bozkurt and Caner Taşpınar were among the nine people that were taken into custody in the scope of searches made at the İP, Aydınlık newspaper and the National Channel. They were released after they had given their statements to the prosecution.

Gültekin, Önsel, Özlü, Gümrükçü and Aydınlık newspaper Intelligence Chief Bozkurt started a hunger strike in police custody.

Members of the İP gathered in front of the Beşiktaş (Istanbul) Courthouse and protested the arrests by chanting the slogan "Down with the Beşiktaş terrorist organization".

The arrested persons were taken to Metris Prison in Istanbul. (IC/VK)