Ýbrahim Kabaoðlu, Baskýn Oran, Taner Timur, Nuray Mert, Jülide Kural, Derya Alabora, Aydýn Çubukçu are just some of the 610 intellectuals, writers, artists, actors who signed a letter in support of Diyarbakir Labor, Democracy and Freedom Block deputy Hatip Dicle. Dicle was stripped of his mandate last week when the Supreme Election Board ruled he could not take his place in the parliament.

The intellectuals campaign asked for the will of the people who elected Dicle to be respected. Likewise the campaign highlights the injustice done to other 5 deputies from the Block who are still in jail, after various courts denied them freedom.

A group of intellectuals had organised a press conference in Istanbul to publicise the campaign and unveil the signatures collected so far.

The conference was organised, amon others, by professors Ferhat Kentel, Sezai Temelli, Ýzzettin Önder, Mehmet Türkay, writers Faik Bulut, Aydýn Çubukçu, Ragýp Zarakolu and artists Yusuf Çetin.