Fifty-one people detained in new KCK operation

26 November 2012 – ANF – Dozens taken into custody in the provinces of Van, Iğdır and Mersin. – At least 51 people have been taken into custody in the provinces of Van, Iğdır and Mersin on Monday in the scope of so-called Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) operation which targets Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), Kurdish media and non-governmental organizations since the local elections in 2009 when the BDP achieved a historic victory across Turkey.

Among the main circles targeted by the KCK operations are elected executives, journalists, unionists, lawyers, human rights defenders, academics, authors, children, students and woman activists. Thousands of people have been subjected to political arrests in the scope of the KCK operation and the anti-terror law in the last four years.

An expansive KCK operation has been carried out today in three provinces, mainly targeting BDP local executives, city council members, woman activists and minors.

Dozens of addresses have been targeted in Van and its districts today in the scope of simultaneous operations which ended up with the detention of at least 23 people. People have gathered in front of BDP office to protest against the detentions. On the other hand, five youngsters have been arrested today in Hakkari’s Yüksekova district today for allegedly “being members of an illegal organization” and “damaging public property”. Five youngsters had been taken into custody along with ten others on 22 November.