NEWS

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• 19th EUTCC Conference ends demanding the release of Abdullah Öcalan 

  The 19th EUTCC Conference ended demanding relevant institutions to play their role in resolving the conflict by securing the release of Abdullah Öcalan, recognizing Northern and Eastern Syria, and removing the PKK from the list of terrorist organizations.
• Congress urges Turkey to release detained mayors and stop their dismissals and detention 

  The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe has called on the Turkish authorities to stop prosecuting and detaining elected representatives from opposition parties and to release current detainees.
• 19th EUTCC Conference at the European Parliament: Turkey should respond to Öcalan’s historic call 

  Speakers at the International Conference held at the European Parliament stated that Abdullah Öcalan’s ‘Call for Peace and Democratic Society’ was historic and that the Turkish state must also fulfill its responsibilities.
• Özaras: Bar associations will not remain silent 

  Van Bar Association President Sinan Özaras denounced the removal of the Istanbul Bar Association’s executive board.
• 1,879 people taken into custody for protesting operation against Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality 

  Following the operation against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, 1,879 people were taken into custody. 260 of them were sent to prison, while 468 people were placed under judicial control.
• CCOO, Confederation of STEs-i and Confederación Intersindical stand by KESK, Eğitim-Sen, DISK 

  Trade unions in the Spanish State expressed solidarity with KESK, Eğitim-Sen, and DISK.
• Öcalan’s call shapes opening of 19th EUTCC Conference  

  Abdullah Öcalan’s call for peace and negotiations shaped the opening of the Brussels conference on the European Union, the Middle East, Turkey, and the Kurds.
• Basque trade union LAB expresses solidarity with Eğitim Sen 

  The Basque trade union LAB sent a message of solidarity to Eğitim Sen following the news of an investigation opened against it.
• Nuri Arslan elected deputy mayor of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality 

  CHP candidate Nuri Arslan competed against AKP candidate Zeynel Abidin Okul, and was eventually elected as deputy mayor of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.
• Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal announces final verdict of 54th session on Rojava vs. Turkey  

  The Permanent Peoples' Tribunal found that the Turkish state committed war crimes, crimes against humanity, invasion and cultural and historical erasure in Rojava.
• Newroz reception at the House of Commons declares support for Kurdish struggle and Öcalan's freedom 

  Speaking at the Newroz reception at the House of Commons, Gary Smith, General Secretary of the 500,000-member GMB Union, emphasized that they will continue to support the “Freedom for Abdullah Öcalan” campaign and stand by the struggle of the Kurds.
• 20 people sent to prison in Izmir and Antalya 

  Of the 54 people detained in Izmir, 10 were sent to prison on charges of "violating the law on meetings and demonstrations." In addition, another 10 people were remanded in custody in Antalya.
• Hundreds of writers and academics in Turkey call for "democracy alliance"  

  Hundreds of writers, academics, and activists called for a democracy alliance following investigations targeting IBB.
• Spindar: A new phase opened with Öcalan’s letter 

  Legal expert Ibrahim Spindar said Abdullah Öcalan’s letter marks a historic shift for Kurdish politics, opening a new phase for all Kurdish parties.
• 19th International Conference on "The EU, Turkey, the Middle East and the Kurds" opens today 

  The EUTCC will hold its 19th International Conference in the European Parliament today and tomorrow.
• Investigation targets Egitim-Sen executives 

  An investigation was launched against Egitim-Sen after the union spoke out against repression and unlawful practices.
• 172 people sent to prison in the past six days 

  1,418 people have been taken into custody in the last six days. 172 have been sent to prison.
• 64 people jailed in Istanbul for participating in protests 

  Arrest warrants were issued for 64 of the 206 people detained for participating in the protests that started after the arrest of Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.
• 1,418 people taken into custody in connection with protests since 19 March 

  Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya reported that 1,418 people were detained in connection with the protests that followed the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu.
• Legal community protests dismissal of Istanbul Bar Association’s executive board 

  59 bar associations condemned the dismissal of the Istanbul Bar Association’s executive board, vowing to resist unlawfulness and uphold democratic values.
• Freedom for Öcalan Vigil marks its 666th week 

  Artist Seydo Gimgim, representing the group from Marseille, called for active participation in the struggle for Abdullah Öcalan’s freedom through deeper understanding of his ideas.
• CoE Congress says İmamoğlu’s detention is an assault on democracy, calls for his release 

  Deploring the arrest of the Mayor of Istanbul, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the CoE said: “This is a calculated move aimed at undermining the integrity and fairness of electoral processes and amounts to an assault on democracy.”
• At least 1,133 people detained during protests in the last five days 

  Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced that 1,133 people were detained during the protests between March 19 and March 23.
• Labour Party Chair: A joint struggle for democracy is essential in Turkey 

  Commenting on the targeting of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, EHP Chair Hakan Öztürk emphasized that the Kurds, the CHP, and the left have no choice but to come together and wage a joint struggle for democracy.
• Kurdish activist Nasır Yağız extradited from Russia to Turkey - UPDATE 

  Kurdish activist Nasır Yağız has been extradited from Russia to Turkey. The 32-year-old politician fled from repression to South Kurdistan in 2018 and headed the HDP representation there. Now he faces the risk of imprisonment in Turkey.