Lawyers of 104 Kurdish politicians, who were arrested over a year ago have applied to the European Court of Human Rights. The lawyers said that their clients have been under arrest for 14 months but as yet charges remain unclear, because an order of secrecy has been placed on the file case. This behaviour also shows the lack of independence of the judiciary system, according to the lawyers.

At a press conference in Diyarbakir, yesterday, the lawyers said that arrests now have become a punishment, because their clients are in prison well beyond the precautionary measures period.

Diyarbakýr Bar President Emin Aktar underlined that “our clients do not know what the charges are against them and what evidence is brought against them. It is clear - added Aktar - that this case has turned into a political decision. We ask for the case to be opened as soon as possible and the order of secrecy on the file to be revoked"

Former Bar President Sezgin Tanrýkulu said that in the 1990's the Kurdish political movement couldn’t be stopped so many killings by unknown perpetrators took place and many people were forced to flee the country. Now they try to stop the Kurdish movement using the judiciary system".

At the conference Lawyer Meral Daniþ Beþtaþ, deputy president of the BDP (Peace and Democracy Party) in charge of law and human rights, openly said that the investigation is part of a process to eliminate the party. Lawyer Reyhan Yalçindag added that "we have begun bringing the matter to the attention of the European Court of Human Rights on the ground that relevant laws have been violated in making the arrests". Yesterday it was announced that the first 104 cases were being brought to the European Court of Human Rights, these being the first arrests made. The total of people arrested under the same operation reaches 1,584. All of the cases will be brought to Europe.

Translation: Berna Ozgencil