Singer Tunc Freed

Singer Tunc, who was arrested last week upon orders by a local court in southeast district of Dogubeyazit for a speech he made during a concert, is released. The other artists, singer Rojin and stand-up showman Batki, who performed in the same festival, are arrested in absentia. The first hearing of the case which is opened against the artists will be held in August.

As singer Ferhat Tunc, who has been arrested on the claim that he said "hello to the members of PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party)," is released, the new arrests are protested.

The three artists are charged by the claim of "affiliation to a terror organization" .The trial will start on the 12th of August.

Tunc was released upon orders by Erzurum State Security Court's (DGM) where the judge decided after viewing the videotapes of the concert upon Tunc's lawyer's application.

The Erzurum DGM has opened the case against the artists Rojin Murat Batgi and Ferhat Tunc and also against the Gülistan Geçit Talat Yasmin, two of the audience. They are all accused of violating Article 169 of the Turkish Criminal Code which formulates the guilt of "backing and accessory to a terror organization".

Human Rights Organization Istanbul branch protested the arrests and stated: "The contradiction between the law and it's implementation should be solved. The State, should fight against the 'power groups' which are resisting democratization and freedom of thought. " (PT/NM)