Kurdish politician Yüksel Koç imprisoned in Germany
Yüksel Koç, the former co-chair of KCDK-E, who was detained during a raid on his house in Bremen on May 20, was remanded in custody.
Yüksel Koç, a Kurdish politician residing in Bremen, was taken into custody following a raid on his house at 7 a.m. on Tuesday.
The former co-chair of the Congress of Kurdistan Democratic Communities in Europe (KCDK-E) appeared before a judge in Karlsruhe today.
The court issued an arrest warrant under Section 129b of the German Criminal Code on charges of “membership of a terrorist organization.” Following the ruling, Koç was sent to Bremen Prison.
German security agencies have reportedly been monitoring Koç since 2016. The main trial is expected to be held at the Hamburg Higher Regional Court.
Koç's lawyers stated that they would appeal the arrest, arguing that the trial was politically motivated.
Yüksel Koç's arrest followed the PKK’s decision to disband and disarm at its 12th Congress.
German Criminal Court sections 129a and 129b grant the German state the authority to prosecute individuals who are members of an organization deemed illegal in another country. The articles are primarily used against Kurds and left-wing groups.
