23 people of a total of 35 taken into custody on 24 December are kept in detention, among them 7 mayors, İHD Deputy Chairman Muharem Erbey and Democratic Society Congress spokesman Hatip Dicle.

The court declined the request of third party plaintiffship made by families of Arıkan and Demir who were killed in an operation against Dev-Sol. Lawyer Kozağaçlı from the Contemproray Lawyers Association warned that criminal offences are being covered up.

A DTP delegation visited the Mahmur refugee camp in Iraq. Many Turks forced to migrate in the early 1990s because of clashes and evacuations of villages are still living in the camp. The Turkish refugees want to come back to their home country and voiced the conditions for their return to the delegation.

Journalists Perihan Mağden form Radikal newspaper and Cemal Subaşı from Tempo Magazine each have to pay 5,000 TL in compensation to the Prime Minister's family. The Court of Appeals approved the local court's decision regarding the compensation claims as licit.

The murderers of journalist Hayırsevener have not been found yet. Güney Marmara Yaşam newspaper condemned the attack on the journalist and said "He was killed for doing journalism". Hayırsevener had frequently focused on the topic of local corruption.

Navy Commander Tatar committed suicide. After his previous release the prosecutor effected his arrest again. In the hospital where Ergenekon defendant retired Brigadier General Ersöz undergoes medical treatment, a retired specialist sergeant carrying 2 guns was arrested.

The court prosecuting journalist Nedim Şener for his book "The Dink Murder and the Intelligence's Lies" did not accept the folders sent by the court dealing with the Hrant Dink murder case, but asked once more for specific information whether the diagrams from the book are included in the file or not.

An Istanbul court decided for a 1 month ban of weekly Aydınlık newspaper under allegations of spreading propaganda for a terrorist organization.

An Istanbul court decided for a 1 month ban of weekly Aydınlık newspaper under allegations of spreading propaganda for a terrorist organization. Aydinlik's management deny praising terrorism, and were not immediately aware which articles the court order referred to.

Interior Minister Atalay said that the met with DTP co-chair Türk after the closure of the party and that he was against the closure. However, Adalay indicated that a consensus in parliament is needed for an amendment of the constitution and that no work has been done yet.

After the closure of pro-Kurdish DTP, clashes occurred in the pre-dominantly Kurdish South-East of Turkey and also in Istanbul, claiming the lives of several people. A shop owner from Muş shot to the crowd right in front of the police, a person in Istanbul was paid to shoot.

Private Özdemir stated to the prosecutor that in his opinion the killing of 33 soldiers in Bingöl in 1993 was related to the Ergenekon organization. Özdemir had been injured in the attack.

Writer Temel Demirer is still on trial under article 301 for saying that Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink was murdered for recognizing the Armenian genocide. At the same time, Demirer is also still waiting for a reply from the administrative court.

The Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation into the contents of the book "The 'L' State of Love" about love stories between lesbians because it allegedly deals with "unnatural relationships". Zeliş Deniz from LambdaIstanbul criticized the repetitive pretence of "public morality".

Experts from Europe and the Mediterranean and rights organizations met with families of disappeared people in Istanbul last weekend. The participants called for transparency, clarification and reparation regarding enforced disappearances, claiming individuals and governments to be held responsible.

Criminal courts in the Istanbul district of Şişli convicted 4 people of insulting and threatening the Armenian Agos newspaper until the present day. The Şişli 2nd Magistrate Criminal Court currently tries defendant Celepoğlu under charges of "inciting hatred and hostility".

Former Intelligence Office Chairman Ramazan Akyürek filed criminal complaints against Nedim Şener and Kemal Göktaş for their books concerning the murder of Armenian journalist Hrant Dink. Şener's hearing is tomorrow, Göktaş will be in court in February 2010.

DTP İskenderun District Mayor Mahmut Aydıncı and journalist Ersen Korkmaz face imprisonment of up to 3 years for addressing PKK leader Öcalan as "respectable". The final speech of the prosecution will be presented on 26 January 2010.

Dünya Radio broadcasting director Kenan Karavil and Seyithan Akyüz from the Kurdish Azadia Welat newspaper were kept in custody for 4 days and are now in prison under charges of "membership to the PKK organization".

The Constitutional Court ruled for the closure of pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party and imposed a political ban on 37 of its members. Co-chairs Türk and Tuğluk are deposed from their duties as MPs. Human Rights organizations criticized the decision.