Belge Publishing, founded by human rights defender Ayşenur Zarakolu (who lost her life in 2002) and journalist-author Ragıp Zarakolu, was raided by the police.

Belge Publishing has been putting out opposition books for 40 years and has suffered systemic pressure for it. Many of their books were subjected to trials. Last night police raided their office in Cağaloğlu district with allegations of “unlabeled books” and conducted searches both in the offices and in the warehouse.

The police said they had an order to pull the books “Stateless Kurds” and “Decisions Harder Than Death” and confiscated most books in the offices, despite not having warrants for them.

The police confiscated some 2000 books and detained office worker Mehmet Ali Varış, who was released later.