Ragıp ZarakoluOn 1 November 2011, human rights defender Mr Ragıp Zarakolu was one of between 40 and 50 people remanded in pre-trial detention by the 14th High Criminal Court in Beşiktaş, Istanbul. He is accused of “membership of an illegal organisation” – Koma Ciwaken Kurdistan (KCK) (Union of Kurdistan Communities).
On 28 October 2011, a group of approximately 50 people were arrested when the police carried out a vast operation mainly targeting members of the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) in Istanbul Province. Among those arrested was human rights defender Ragıp Zarakolu, who was arrested at his home. Once at the police headquarters, the arrestees were held in a waiting room during the interrogation which lasted over 24 hours with just a few chairs to be shared between them.
On the morning of 31 October, Ragıp Zarakolu was taken to the Istanbul Courthouse, together with the other individuals arrested. Following a 28-hour long hearing, the 14th High Criminal Court in Beşiktaş remanded Ragıp Zarakolu in pre-trial detention on charges of “membership of an illegal organisation” under Article 314 of the Turkish Penal Code in conjunction with the Anti-Terrorism Act. Ragıp Zarakolu is currently detained at the Metris high-security prison.
It is reported that during his interrogation, the police did not ask any questions on the organisation of which he is accused of being a member, but only questioned him about the books he authored or edited for publication as well as public meetings where he spoke or that he attended.
In the days leading up to his arrest, Ragıp Zarakolu had been campaigning for the release of his son, Deniz Zarakolu, who was arrested in early October after giving a lecture on political philosophy at the BDP Academy of Political Science.
The Turkish authorities initiated an investigation into KCK in December 2009 on the basis that, by virtue of including the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), the KCK is a terrorist network. Since its commencement, the operation has led to the arrest of hundreds of peaceful members or supporters of the Kurdish community who are not related to any terrorist activity.
Among those arrested are Kurdish politicians and officials, intellectuals, academics and human rights defenders. Human rights lawyers have also been the target of judicial harassment, with four prominent members of the Human Rights Association (IHD) being currently tried on charges of “membership of an illegal organisation” by the 11th High Criminal Court in Ankara. Several other IHD members remain in pre-trial detention, including İHD General Vice-Chairperson Mr Muharrem Erbey. On 27 September 2011, Front Line issued an urgent appeal on the new wave of raids and arrests that targeted members of the Sanliurfa province branches of the IHD, the Education and Science Workers Trade Union (Eğitim-Sen) and the Health and Social Service Workers Trade Union (SES).
Front Line believes that the arrest and pre-trial detention of Ragıp Zarakolu are directly related to his legitimate work in the defence of human rights. Front Line expresses its deep concern that the ongoing crackdown targets human rights defenders and members of civil society engaged in peaceful human rights work, in particular the promotion and protection of the rights of the Kurdish minority. Front Line is further concerned that fair trial guarantees may not be fully respected, as shown in particular by the numerous cases of lengthy pre-trial detention.
Further Information
Ragıp Zarakolu, one of Turkey's most prominent freedom of expression and minority rights defenders, is a founding member of the Human Rights Association (IHD), Chairperson of the Freedom to Publish Committee of the Turkish Publishers Association and Director of the Belge Publishing House.On 28 October 2011, a group of approximately 50 people were arrested when the police carried out a vast operation mainly targeting members of the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) in Istanbul Province. Among those arrested was human rights defender Ragıp Zarakolu, who was arrested at his home. Once at the police headquarters, the arrestees were held in a waiting room during the interrogation which lasted over 24 hours with just a few chairs to be shared between them.
On the morning of 31 October, Ragıp Zarakolu was taken to the Istanbul Courthouse, together with the other individuals arrested. Following a 28-hour long hearing, the 14th High Criminal Court in Beşiktaş remanded Ragıp Zarakolu in pre-trial detention on charges of “membership of an illegal organisation” under Article 314 of the Turkish Penal Code in conjunction with the Anti-Terrorism Act. Ragıp Zarakolu is currently detained at the Metris high-security prison.
It is reported that during his interrogation, the police did not ask any questions on the organisation of which he is accused of being a member, but only questioned him about the books he authored or edited for publication as well as public meetings where he spoke or that he attended.
In the days leading up to his arrest, Ragıp Zarakolu had been campaigning for the release of his son, Deniz Zarakolu, who was arrested in early October after giving a lecture on political philosophy at the BDP Academy of Political Science.
The Turkish authorities initiated an investigation into KCK in December 2009 on the basis that, by virtue of including the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), the KCK is a terrorist network. Since its commencement, the operation has led to the arrest of hundreds of peaceful members or supporters of the Kurdish community who are not related to any terrorist activity.
Among those arrested are Kurdish politicians and officials, intellectuals, academics and human rights defenders. Human rights lawyers have also been the target of judicial harassment, with four prominent members of the Human Rights Association (IHD) being currently tried on charges of “membership of an illegal organisation” by the 11th High Criminal Court in Ankara. Several other IHD members remain in pre-trial detention, including İHD General Vice-Chairperson Mr Muharrem Erbey. On 27 September 2011, Front Line issued an urgent appeal on the new wave of raids and arrests that targeted members of the Sanliurfa province branches of the IHD, the Education and Science Workers Trade Union (Eğitim-Sen) and the Health and Social Service Workers Trade Union (SES).
Front Line believes that the arrest and pre-trial detention of Ragıp Zarakolu are directly related to his legitimate work in the defence of human rights. Front Line expresses its deep concern that the ongoing crackdown targets human rights defenders and members of civil society engaged in peaceful human rights work, in particular the promotion and protection of the rights of the Kurdish minority. Front Line is further concerned that fair trial guarantees may not be fully respected, as shown in particular by the numerous cases of lengthy pre-trial detention.
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