Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) co-chair Gültan Kışanak held a press conference in front of Istanbul 22th High Criminal Court where the trial of 21 people in KCK (Kurdish Communities Union) has begun early Tuesday. Among those standing trial today are BDP deputy co-chair  Fatma Kurtulan and Party Council member Tuncer Bakırhan.

Speaking here, BDP co-chair Gültan Kışanak, who is also attending the hearing, said that "the ending of KCK cases and arrests is the first step we want to be taken for the removal of obstacles in front of democratic politics in the current process".

Kışanak reminded that thousands of politicians, journalists, unionists and lawyers have been arrested as part of the so-called KCK case since 2009, and underlined that KCK operations are a political impact targeting democratic politics. "Reasons and excuses have been invented for the arrest of these people by means of unlawful, illegal ways contrary to justice", she said.

Referring to the KCK operation launched in January of 2012, Kışanak said this operation targeted the executives of the BDP headquarters and aimed at the closure of the party. She pointed out that a number of people have been intended to be eliminated from politics by means of these political operations.

"If we are talking about the beginning of a new process, the main step to be taken for it should be to pave the way for democratic politics and to create conditions to enable it. We demand the release of our friends considering that the KCK operations and arrests have become invalid and ineffective because of the current process we are going through", she added.