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. The 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.

Speaking at today's hearing, defendant lawyer Ercan Kanar asked the court board to allow three days time for the defense of suspects, defending that very litte time is allocated to the defense of a number of defendants. The chief judge rejected Kanar's request, saying that the court will act in line with its own program, according to which 205 suspects will be allowed to defend themselves one day long, from 14 to 15 March.