Following the detentions within the scope of the so-called KCK operations on 20 December, 36 journalists have been remanded in custody by a vacation court for allegedly being "member of an illegal organization".

After bearing testimony to the prosecutor at Istanbul Court for over 15 hours, 42 journalists were on 23 December evening referred to the vacation court with a demand of arrest. While six of them were released on 24 December morning on conditions of trial without arrest, 36 journalists were sent to prison once again despite the lack of any confirmed criminal evidence.

Following the judgment where journalists were interrogated because of the news they made, Eylem Sürmeli, Güneþ Ünsal, Enis Yalçýn, Þeref Sümeli, Sevinç Tuncelli and Arzu Demir were released on conditions of trial without arrest.

The court defended the decision of arrest for 36 journalists by the reason of “strong evidence suspect” and “probability of obfuscating the evidences”.

The court decision was protested by the people who waited in front of the court till the end of the interrogation at early morning hours to support the members and laborers of free press. Tension rose in front of the court when journalists were being taken to police vehicles from the court. The mass staged a sit-in act and blocked the way of vehicles for some time.

Arrested woman journalists will reportedly be taken to Bakýrköy Prison for Women and Juveniles, others to the Metris Prison in Istanbul.

All the people who have been detained or arrested within the scope of the KCK operation are accused of being KCK members or executives.