The fifth sitting of the fourth hearing of Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK) Istanbul main trial has begun this morning at Istanbul 15th High Criminal Court in Silivri Prison Complex.

205 politicians (118 are in prison), are tried in the scope of the so called KCK Istanbul case. Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) politicians, academics and human rights defenders on trial were arrested in a KCK operation which targeted BDP provincial and district offices, politics academies and institutions in Istanbul between 5 and 28 September 2011.

The hearing continues with the reading of the indictment.

Since 2009, over 8,000 people in Turkey have been arrested as part of anti-terror operations against the KCK (Kurdistan Communities Union).