The EU Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC) issued a statement on the ongoing trial of 151 high profile and leading Kurdish politicians and activists in Turkey accused of having links to the PKK. The statement points out that the politicians "risk jail terms from five years to life in jail on various charges." And underlines that "the accused include several elected mayors and former mayors, elected members of regional assemblies, journalists, and human rights spokespersons. The accused are not allowed to defend themselves in their own Kurdish language, a clear denial of the European Convention on Human Rights and even Turkish President Abdullah Gul’s call to allow Kurdish to be used."

According to the EUTCC the "detention of Kurdish politicians and activists has a negative impact on a peaceful solution to the Kurdish question. This act is not compatible with democratic and international law norms."

It is for this reason that the EU Turkey Civic Commission (EUTCC) calls upon "the Turkish government to implement the rights of the Kurdish people and thus of all Turkish citizens." The statement is signed by Kariane Westrheim, PhD, Chair of EUTCC, Bergen, Norway, Hans Branscheidt, Board of Directors EUTCC, Frankfurt, Germany and Professor Michel Gunter, Secretary General, EUTCC, Tennessee, USA.