According to 31 November 2011 data of Ministry of Justice, the number of arrested and convicted prisoners in Turkey is 127 thousand 831, among whom eight thousand and 190 are accused of “terrorism”. The framework of “terrorism” accusation consists of children, students, journalists, union members, soldiers and politicians.

While arrests target various occupational groups, the current figure of arrests on the grounds of “terrorism” is remarkably higher when compared to those in 90’s, times of intense conflict environment.

When we look at the process of the last ten years, we see that “terrorism arrests” peaked with the formation of special authorized courts which replaced State Security Court (DGM) in 2004. It could be useful to remind in this respect that arrests have remarkably increased since 2005 when new penal codes came into force.

In line with the AKP laws enacted within the framework of so-called “advanced democracy”, the increase in “arrests for terrorism” in the last eight years can be summarized with the following figures; 3,788 in 2004; 3,630 in 2005; 3,835 in 2006; 4,520 in 2007; 5,439 in 2008; 6,328 in 2009 and 8,190 in 2011.