BDP deputies decry latest KCK arrests

The latest wave of arrests in the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) case are part of an attempt to sideling democratic politics, Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) co-chair Gültan Kışanak said in her party’s group meeting yesterday.

“These operations are organized to threaten everyone that has a democratic approach. Professor [Büşra] Ersanlı is someone who dedicated all her life to social sciences, and is known for her identity in defending women’s rights and human rights. On what grounds can they arrest her? What is the reason for [publisher Ragıp] Zarakolu to speak about his views in our education workshops? We are facing a mentality that wants to stop democrats and the Kurds,” she said.

Ersanlı and Zarakolu were the two highest-profile figures arrested in the latest KCK raids over the weekend.

BDP deputy Ertuğrul Kürkçü also addressed the issue of the arrests and said they were no different than the atmosphere after the 1980 military up.

“[Prime Minister Recep Tayyip] Erdoğan’s government, instead of trying to solve the Kurdish issue, wants to criminalize Kurdish opponents,” she said, adding that this would ultimately constitute the rule of a de facto junta.

“It is everyone’s right to speak openly about the issues that Erdoğan negotiated with the PKK [outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party] leader behind closed doors,” Kürkçü said.

“We continue to demand the release of those who were arrested under the KCK operations,” he said.

The KCK is accused of being the urban wing of the PKK, which is itself listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey and much of the international community.