Three people imprisoned in Istanbul

Three of 15 people who were detained in Istanbul on February 27 in a political genocide operation were remanded in custody.

On February 27, 15 people, including Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM) Party Assembly (PM) member Sıtkı Güngör, Federation of Socialist Councils (SMF), Socialist Women's Assemblies (SKM), Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP) and Partizan members, were detained in house raids in Istanbul. The 15 people, who were accused of "financing an illegal organization" for depositing money for prisoners, were referred to Istanbul Courthouse on March 1 after giving their statements at the police station.

Partizan magazine readers İbrahim Hakkı Eren, Ali Karaçay and Mesut Gerçek, who were referred to the court with a request for their arrest, were released with judicial control measures, while Mehmet Acettin, Managing Editor of ETHA (Etkin News Agency) and member of the Central Executive Committee (MYK) of the Human Rights Association (IHD), was sentenced to house arrest. SMF member Metin Keleş and Partizan reader Arzu Aksakal were remanded in custody and sent to prison.

The statement procedures for ESP PM members Ali Haydar Keleş, Mert Çuhadar, Mesut Çeki, Uğur Ok, SKM Central Executive Committee member Ezgi Gürbüz, SKM General Assembly member Hacer Elçin, Ceylan Publishing Concessionaire Hüseyin Gültepe, DEM Party PM member Sıtkı Güngör and SMF Term Spokesperson Barış Kayaoğlu, who were referred to the Criminal Judgeship of Peace with a request for their arrest, continued until late into the night. After the court statements, ESP PM members Ali Haydar Keleş, Mert Çuhadar, Mesut Çeki, Uğur Ok, SKM Central Executive Committee member Ezgi Gürbüz, SKM General Assembly member Hacer Elçin, Ceylan Publishing Concessionaire Hüseyin Gültepe and SMF Term Spokesperson Barış Kayaoğlu were released on judicial control conditions, while DEM Party PM member Sıtkı Güngör was imprisoned.