European Alevi Unions Confederation Honorary Chair Turgut Öker Released

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Turgut Öker, the Honorary Chair of the European Alevi Unions Confederation (AABK) and 25th Term İstanbul MP of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), was taken into custody at İstanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport shortly after he returned to Turkey from abroad this morning (October 11).

As reported by Mezopotamya Agency, Öker was taken to the İstanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan to depose as part of an investigation launched against him on charge of "propagandizing for a terrorist organization".

Ökre has been released after deposing at the courthouse.

AABK Chair: Release him immediately

Sharing a brief message about the issue on Twitter, European Alevi Unions Confederation (AABK) Chair Hüseyin Mat has said, "Release our AABK Honorary Chair immediately".

About Turgut Öker

Politician Turgut Öker is Honorary Chair of the European Alevi Unions Confederation and the İstanbul MP of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) İstanbul MP between June 8, 2015 and November 1, 2015.

Öker was the Chair of Hamburg Alive Cultural Center from 1992 to 1993 and Secretary General of the European Alevi Unions Federation (AABF) from 1993 to 1996. Since 2000, he has been the Chair of Germany Alevi Unions Federation and since 2002, Chair of Germany Alevi Unions Confederation.

Ahead of the Parliamentary elections on June 24, 2018, he was nominated as an MP candidate by the HDP; however, his candidacy was not approved by the Supreme Election Council (YSK) on the ground that he was previously convicted of "insulting the President." (PT/SD)