Fifteen out of the 41 people detained following home raids in Van last week were remanded in custody accused of spying for  the Iranian state.

These people who make their living by cross border trading were accused to be spies for phrases and conversations clearly related to their trade. 

Gendarmerie Special Harekat (JÖH) personnel raided the houses in the villages of the provinces of Saray and Özalp in the region of Van on the morning of 14 May and detained 41 Kurdish villagers.

Particularly hit were the villages of Bakis and Turgali villages.

After appearing in Court 15 of the 41 people were remanded in custody accused of spying activities for the Iranian state while the others were released. 

Among the charges are being in contact with foreign intelligence in detriment to the citizens living in Turkey. 

In recent times villagers have been denouncing the heavy surveillance and control by the Turkish army and police. In particular, it has been recalled how in 20 years some 200 people trading cross border have been murdered by security forces.