Amed (Diyarbakır)- On 25 April, 128 people, including journalists, lawyers, politicians, theater artists and activists, were detained in house raids conducted in 21 cities across Türkiye as part of an investigation launched by the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. 24 of 128 people have been sent to prison while 18 people have been released under judicial control.

Jinnews reporter Beritan Canözer, Mesopotamia Agency (MA) editor Abdurrahman Gök, MA reporter Ahmet Kanba and journalist Remzi Akkaya are among the people, who have been sent to prison on charges of “membership of a (terrorist) organization”.

The names of 20 people, who have been sent to prison on charges of “propagandizing for a (terrorist) organization are: Devrim Roni Atik, Kadir Şenci, Berfin Can, Muhsin Acar, Osman Demir, Rumet Çetin, Mehdi Kaya, Cotkar Amara Yürek, Hamza Cihangir, Hasret Yelboğa, Suat Arda Işık, Şahin Biçimli, Hakim Kaya, Mikail Barut, Tacettin Araz, Nurullah Özgün, Abdulbahri Maviay, Ferit Aktepe, Şervan Doğan and Cesur Yılmaz.

Four lawyers released under judicial control

Lawyers Eylül Özgültekin, Gurbet Özbey Öner, Jiyan Sametoğlu and Mustafa Şenci have been released under judicial control, banned from travelling abroad.

ÖHD: We are never intimidated and we will never be intimidated

The Lawyers Association for Freedom (ÖHD) held a press conference in front of the Diyarbakır Courthouse, condemning the imprisonment of their members. Many lawyers chanting slogans such as “ÖHD never keeps silent and will never keep silent”, “Pressure will not intimidate us” and “Kurdistan will be a graveyard for fascism” attended the press conference.

Making a speech at the press conference, ÖHD Co-chair Ekin Yeter said, “Detained people faced lawyer restriction, a confidentiality order covering the investigation, the buildings and offices were unlawfully searched. Our three members have been sent to prison. We were never intimidated when we were killed by unknown assailants in the 90s. We were never intimidated when we started indefinite hunger strikes for fair trials. We were never intimidated when we were killed in front of the Four-Legged Minaret while protecting the heritage of humanity (Referring to the murder of Tahir Elçi, head of Diyarbakır Bar Association). As the ÖHD, we were never intimidated, we are never intimidated and we will never be intimidated. We will keep struggling.”