Zarakolu: I will continue to work for Kurds' rights

Zarakolu: I will continue to work for Kurds' rights

In a statement after his release from Kandýra F Type Prison on 10 April, academics and publisher Ragýp Zarakolu said that; “I will continue my works to raise awareness in the society about the rights of Kurds.”

Publisher Ragýp Zarakolu as well as other fifteen people detained in Istanbul within the scope of the so-called "KCK" (Kurdistan Communities Union) operation was released on Tuesday afternoon.

In a short statement to press after his release from Kandýra F Type High Security Prison and Bakýrköy Prison for Women and Juveniles, Zarakolu said that not only his arrest but also his release "came as a surprise".

"It hurts me to witness lawyers, journalists, academicians and students being jailed, said Zarakolu and added the followings;

"As all political parties have Political Academies, it is nonsense that we have been arrested for giving lessons at the BDP Political Academy. These arrests point at the fact that it is forbidden for Kurds to establish a party. I will continue my works to raise awareness in the society about the rights of Kurds."

Zarakolu evaluated his release while the arrest of his friends continues as "discrimination" and reminded that Turkey is the second country to have the highest number of political prisoners.

BDP Istanbul deputy Sebahat Tuncel who was also among the people waiting in front of the prison said that; "We hope the release of political prisoners will continue and lead to a process to peace."

Among the fifteen KCK detainees released on Tuesday are also Özgür Gündem paper worker Songül Karataðna and BDP Yalova Provincial Chair Evrim Öztürk who have been held in Bakýrköy Prison for Women and Juveniles.