Movie Directors Arslan and Photographer Özer Released

81 people taken into police custody on 13 February were released on Thursday (16 February). Approximately 140 people were taken into custody in the scope of the operation that was carried out in 16 provinces simultaneously against the Union of Kurdish Communities (KCK), the umbrella organization that includes the militant Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

35 out of a total of 49 people taken into custody in Istanbul alone were now released, among them poet and photographer Mehmet Özer and movie director Mizgin Arslan. The remaining 14 people were brought to court with the demand to arrest them.

Also journalist Banu Yıldız was among the people who were released.

Ten people taken into custody in Gaziantep were arrested. In Izimir, ten people were released from custody. In Diyarbakır, 33 people were released including Dicle News Agency (DİHA) Diyarbakır reporter İsmet Mikailoğulları. Three people were taken to court with the request for their arrest.

Interrogations in Ankara had still not been completed by Thursday evening.

At 8.00 pm on Wednesday night, three people who had been taken to court in Diyarbakır were released. 14 women members of unions affiliated with the Confederation of Trade Unions of Public Employees (KESK) were brought to court with the demand to arrest them. (NV/VK)