Three Kurdish politicians jailed in Amed

Three Kurdish politicians including former mayor of Amed, Feridun Çelik were arrested in Amed for their political activities at the Democratic Society Congress (DTK).

Six Kurdish politicians were first taken to Diyarbakır Police Headquarters and later Diyarbakır Courthouse after being detained during house raids the day before as part of the 2011 investigation against the Democratic Society Congress (DTK). Kurdish Language Research and Development Initiative administrator İrfan Babaoğlu and Nurettin Sevim were released after their testimony. Former mayor of Amed, Feridun Çelik, former mayor of Kayapınar, Mehmet Can Tekin, former president of Tümbel-Sen Diyarbakır branch ,Medeni Alpkaya and Tülay Özdemir were referred to the Criminal Court on duty.

Feridun Çelik, Mehmet Can Tekin and Tülay Özdemir were charged with "forming and running an organization" and remanded in custody after their testimony.

Medeni Alpkaya’s defense is scheduled to be heard later.