The eight hearing of the KCK (Kurdistan Communities Union) Istanbul main case resumes at Istanbul 15th High Criminal Court in Silivri Prison Complex on Tuesday.

205 politicians (91 are in prison), are tried in 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 which is being attended by 77 Kurdish politicians and human rights activists on trial, as well as their lawyers and relatives began with the defense statement of of BDP Party Assembly former member Emine Caynak who said she joined the formerly made joint statement of defendants.

Caynak commented KCK cases as political cases that lack legal ground and criminalize the works of the BDP, and defended that this truth is also accepted by the AKP officials and should be accepted by the court board as well.

“We are standing trial for leading an opponent Kurdish politics. I am claimed to be a member of the KCK organization but this allegation goes contrary to the norms of law and justice”.

Caynak, reminding of her previous imprisonment for ten years and three months due to her thoughts and ideas, said that the prosecutor formed an opinion about her in consideration of her previous criminal record. I am being tried because of my past, Caynak said.

The hearing continues with Caynak's statement of defense.