DİYARBAKIR - As part of the investigation against the civil society umbrella organisation DTK, 23 people, including Peace Mother Makbule Özbek  were remanded in custody while 22 others were released on condition of not leaving the country.

 

More people have been arrested within the framework of the investigation launched by the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office in Diyarbakir (Amed) against the civil society umbrella organization Democratic Society Congress (Kurd. Kongreya Civaka Demokratîk, KCD, türk. Demokratik Toplum Kongresi, DTK).

 

Of the total 45 people who were detained in the operation, 16 were referred to court yesterday and 8 of them were imprisoned on charges of “being a member of an illegal organization”. 29 other detainees have been referred to court today, including Silvan co-mayor Naşide Toprak, Peace Mother Makbule Özbek and journalist Ayşe Kara.

 

15 PEOPLE JAILED

 

Earlier today, the prosecutor's office demanded to remand in custody 20 people without testimony. 15 of the detainees were then remanded in custody facing the same charges: Makbule Özbek, Mehmet Güngörmüş, Fesih Balbey, Mehmet Cahit Ay, Emrullah Zümrüt, Adil Ercan, Mustafa Alımterin, Tevfik kaçar, Yıldız Damla, Enver Çelik, Erdal Bayram, Fedai Akar, Jiyan Taş, Leyla Bağırtır and Mehmet Cahit Şık.

 

14 PEOPLE RELEASED

 

On the other hand, the court ordered the release of 15 people with a ban to leave the country, including the deposed co-mayor of Silvan, Naşide Toprak, trade unionist Mahfuz Karaaslan, activist Gönül Oğur and journalist Ayşe Kara.

 

With the arrest of 8 people yesterday and 22 today, the number of those remanded in custody in the operation against DTK has risen to 22. On the other hand, 22 of the detainees have been released with a ban on leaving the country.