Kayapýnar municipal employees have staged their 26th sit-in action this week to protest against the arrests of Kurdish politicians including the mayor Zülküf Karatekin. Workers make a protest every Tuesday in front of the service building.

The action saw the partecipation of Kayapýnar Mayor Mahmut Dað, Genel-Iþ Union Diyarbakýr executives, council members and municipal employees. Genel-Iþ Union Diyarbakýr Branch Secretary Muharrem Timur said that the arrest of peace groups in a process characterized by conflict and deaths is thought-provoking. Timur spoke as follows; “Although the arrests were made over a year ago, we have learned through the press that the accusation has just been prepared and given to the court. However, it is not acceptable that the press was leaked the information. The lawyers who will defend our imprisoned friends didn't even know about the accusation just been submitted. Despite being made up by hundreds of pages, the accusation doesn’t give any appreciable evidence. The accusation prepared has certified the fact that the arrests are a result of a political decision.”

Timur added that they demanded the arrested Kurdish politicians to be brought to court as soon as possible and the authorities to give up wrong applications.

Translator: Berna Ozgencil