Rights defender, journalist, and doctor dismissed from the medical profession by executive decree Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu has been sentenced to 2.5 years in prison for one of his posts on social media.

Osman Kavala’s artist friends have organized an open workshop in shift for him. Kavala has been behind bars since November 1.

İbrahim Kalın has stated that as one of three guarantor states, Turkey’s messages are conveyed to Damascus indirectly but not direct dialogue exists between the two regimes and added: “contact can be made to solve certain problems”.

Kept in custody for “being FETÖ executive” and discharged from Dicle University, Prof. Dr. Ayşegül Jale Saraç and Vice President Prof. Dr. Sır have been released.

HDP Party Assembly member Can, Filiz Yılmaz, Metin İlan, Suphi Yıldız, Bedia Aydemir, Gonca Yangöz, Şamil Altan, Abdulselam Yolcu, Taylan Talaş, Hüseyin Gencer, Atilla Sayır, Erhan Sarıkaya, Gülsen Biter, Vahit Dalgıç, Taylan Ürün and Can Memiş have been arrested.

In his parliamentary inquiry, HDP’s İrmez has conveyed that law enforcers said, “The mules are in custody, they will be referred to prosecutor’s office after being deposed” concerning the mules that were allegedly used for trafficking and seized.

Detained seven days ago due to his social media posts, Community House Central Executive Board member Kutay Meriç and discharged academic Serdar Başçetin have been arrested.

Russian FM Lavrov has said that they understand both Turkey’s concerns about Syria and Kurds’ wishes.

President Erdoğan has spoken at his party’s group meeting: “It takes some time to make certain preparations in the field. We will rapidly pass to the phase of besieging Afrin city center”.

HDP former Co-chair Serpil Kemalbay has been released on probation. Kemalbay was in custody since February 13.

The 16th annual International Filmmor Women’s Film Festival On Wheels sets off in Istanbul on March 10 and prepares to reach women in Trabzon, İzmir, Antalya, Bodrum, Mersin, Adana and Diyarbakır through May 10.

Government of Germany has issued another statement following release of Deniz Yücel. Government Spokesperson Seibert has said that efforts for other imprisoned citizens of Germany continue through “all channels”.

President Erdoğan tackled the Afrin issue with Russia President Putin and Iran President Rouhani yesterday (February 19). The telephone calls were said to have emphasized the Astana process.

Bozdağ has said that a commission has been formed to review the precautions taken so for and submit report to the government.

Erzurum Regional General Court has overturned the six-year prison sentence given to HDP MP Burcu Çelik Özkan, who has been under arrest for the past 306 days. The case will be tried again.

Concerning the reports indicating that Syrian army would enter Afrin, Minister of Foreign Affairs Çavuşoğlu has said, “If the [Syrian] regime enters [Afrin] to eliminate the YPG, there is no problem. However, if it is heading there to protect the YPG, then no one can stop us”.

NTV has changed their news item on Tüzünataç’s dress and apologized following the actress’s criticism of the TV channel’s language: “Who needs harassers when our media uses this tone?”

Citing Syrian state channel, Reuters has reported that Syrian army will arrive in Afrin in a few hours.

Released on Friday, journalist Yücel and #FreeDeniz initiative formed by his friends will be granted the “Journalist of the Year” award by Medium Magazin published in Germany.

Reuters citing a Kurdish official has reported that Syrian government coming to terms with the YPG will be deployed in critical positions near Afrin border.