The mainly Kurdish province of Van witnessed two separate trials in the past two weeks. One of the trials was of the Metropolitan Municipality Co-mayor Bekir Kaya, who was elected by the people with 75% percent of the votes and was jailed by the state in a crackdown on elected politicians in November 2016, and the other of 17 ISIS “suspects” who were detained in an operation 4 months ago.

While the court ruled “continuation of arrest” for Co-mayor Bekir Kaya and DBP (Democratic Regions’ Party) Van branch co-chair Ahmet Aygün, 17 ISIS members were released after appearing at court last week.

The ISIS organization’s leader responsible for Van city, Mehmet Fatih Barut, is among those released by the Turkish court without a “judicial supervision” even. Names of the other released ISIS members are; İbrahim Karakaş, Memet Mamuk, Şiar Mamuk, Ömer Onay, Hanifi Onay, Atilla Akyel and Yavuz Yolcudağ.