Writer Parlak Free Until Ruling

Suna Parlak, a writer for the "Ulkede Ozgur Gundem" (Free Agenda in the Country) newspaper, who was detained on December 4 for "being a member of the outlawed Kongra-Gel organization," and Helen Buket from the Rainbow Women's Organization who was detained along with her, were released after spending four days under detention. They will be free pending the outcome of the trial.

The Istanbul branch of the Human Rights Association (IHD) had condemned the detentions calling them illegal. Prosecutor Suleyman Ersoz asked for Parlak and Buket to be arrested after questioning them. The judge released the two women pending the outcome of the trial.

Karakas: "Detention period is too long"

Police from the Istanbul police headquarters had detained Parlak at her home in the Davutpasa Neighborhood of the Gungoren district.

Buket was detained at the organization's building in Taksim. Police had extended the detention period for the two women with the excuse of "collecting evindece." Parlak's lawyer Fatma Karakas had said extending the detention period was illegal. (EO/YS/EA/YE)