The 31st hearing of the KCK (Kurdish Communities Union) trial in Diyarbakýr has begun this morning.

The trial against over hundred Kurdish politicians is not progressing as there is no real case. Instead it keeps being postponed. On the trial also loom the latest declarations by interior minister Ýdris Naim Þahin who hinted on Tuesday that there was no distinction between legal Kurdish politicians and illegal organization members. Not happy with that, he also claimed that artistic and cultural activities could in fact constitute acts of "terrorism".

Immediate the reaction by the BDP (Peace and Democracy Party). As well as harshly criticizing the minister the BDP also said the prosecutor of the KCK trial should launch a closure case against it after the remarks by Þahin.

"We are turning ourselves in to the prosecutor. Our party’s activities are on record in Parliament. Come and do your best for the BDP’s closure, if you are under the command of the interior minister. If not, please give a reaction to the minister,” BDP deputy group leader Hasip Kaplan said on Tuesday.

Deputy Prime Minister Beþir Atalay has said the government would present a new package of democratic reforms. Kaplan said some ministers were playing the "good cop. Besides Ýdris Naim Þahin, - added Kaplan - who plays the bad cop, there are deputy prime ministers who play the good cop. Are Beþir Atalay and Bülent Arýnç’s statements their personal opinions, or are they binding for the government? We are awaiting an explanation from the prime minister".

As for culture Þahin said that some people backed "terrorism by painting, writing poems and daily articles" and they were doing so in an attempt to "demoralize those fighting against terrorism."