Former MP Mahmut Alınak Detained

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Politician and writer Mahmut Alınak was detained today (February 13) at his home in the eastern Kars province.

He was detained for staging a one-person protest in the last month against "unemployment, high costs of living and the oppression of the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government," and charged with "membership of an illegal organization," his family said in a statement.

Alınak (68) previously served two terms in the parliament and was sent to prison nine times.

The statement quoted Alınak as saying, "Such an operation has been launched to intimidate the people. I am going to prison for the 10th time. In these conditions, not going to prison would not suit an intellectual. I am going to prison to keep watch of democracy. Goodbye!"

The police searched his house and detained him upon an order by the Kars Penal Judgeship of Peace, the Odatv reported. It also released video footage showing the search and the detention. While Alınak is exchanging goodbyes with his family members, a police officer is heard saying "We found 21 books in your home," in the footage.

"Mehmet Tunç ve Bekes," a 2017 book by Alınak on the curfews and conflict in the southeastern Şırnak province was recently pulled off from shelves upon a court order.

Nominated by the Social Democratic People's Party (SHP), Alınak was elected as an MP in the parliamentary elections in 1987 and 1991.

He also served as Democratic Society Party (DTP) provincial chairperson in Kars.

He was remanded in custody during the investigation against the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) in December 2011. He was released in July 2012. He was sentenced to 14 months and 7 days in prison for his statements on torture. Although he was released on probation, he was put in prison in September 2014 for violating the probation conditions. He wrote 10 books. (AS/VK)