Zarakolu: I will continue to work for Kurds’ rights

Zarakolu said his release, like his arrest, came as a surprise
In a statement after his release from Kand?ra F Type Prison on 10 April, academics and publisher Rag?p Zarakolu said that; “I will continue my works to raise awareness in the society about the rights of Kurds.”
Publisher Rag?p Zarakolu as well as other fifteen people detained in Istanbul within the scope of the so-called “KCK” (Kurdistan Communities Union) operation was released on Tuesday afternoon.
In a short statement to press after his release from Kand?ra F Type High Security Prison and Bak?rköy Prison for Women and Juveniles, Zarakolu said that not only his arrest but also his release “came as a surprise”.

“It hurts me to witness lawyers, journalists, academicians and students being jailed, said Zarakolu and added the followings;

“As all political parties have Political Academies, it is nonsense that we have been arrested for giving lessons at the BDP Political Academy. These arrests point at the fact that it is forbidden for Kurds to establish a party. I will continue my works to raise awareness in the society about the rights of Kurds.”

Zarakolu evaluated his release while the arrest of his friends continues as “discrimination” and reminded that Turkey is the second country to have the highest number of political prisoners.

BDP Istanbul deputy Sebahat Tuncel who was also among the people waiting in front of the prison said that; “We hope the release of political prisoners will continue and lead to a process to peace.”

Among the fifteen KCK detainees released on Tuesday are also Özgür Gündem paper worker Songül Karata?na and BDP Yalova Provincial Chair Evrim Öztürk who have been held in Bak?rköy Prison for Women and Juveniles.

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