The 20th hearing of the KCK (Kurdistan Communities Union) Mardin case resumed at Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court on Tuesday. 22 politicians, including 8 jailed, are being tried in Mardin KCK case.

The hearing was attended by eight jailed politicians on trial, including BDP (Peace and Democracy Party) Mardin deputy Nursel Aydoğan, and defense lawyers. It was also monitored by BDP deputies Nursel Aydoğan and Ayla Akat Ata.

Politicians on trial defended themselves in their mother tongue Kurdish through interpreters.

Speaking here, BDP Mardin deputy Gülser Yıldırım reminded that they have been jailed for nearly four years now, and said that; "The prosecutor's demanding the continuation of detention reveals the fact that nothing has changed in the course of KCK trials so far". Yıldırım remarked that the court treated KCK detainees as  hostages.

Yıldırım pointed out that they faced trial for doing politics, adding that "Our politics is for the benefit of all peoples in Turkey, not of a certain circle alone. We have worked for peoples and their benefits, refusing to serve repressive policies. All lawful and fair decisions will be serving to build peace among peoples".

In response to the lawyers' demand for the release of all defendants, the court board ruled the continuation of detention of the jailed politicians and adjourned the hearing to 24 December.