Özgür Gündem and Azadiya Welat paper distributor Azat Açýk was beaten and threatened with death by police in Erciþ district of Van.

Açýk was by force taken into custody by three plainclothes police officers yesterday evening while distributing the papers Özgür Gündem and Azadiya Welat in Erciþ district of Van. While Açýk was taken to the area of containers used by police units, he was one hour later released after being beaten and threatened with death for distributing these papers. In a statement on the threat against Açýk who reportedly had bruises on his body after the detention, Azadiya Welat paper Van Representative Nadir Erdem underlined that Erciþ Police Directorate would be responsible for anything that may happen to Açýk from now on. Erdem added that legal steps would be taken in the shortest time against the unlawfulness practiced.