COPENHAGEN, — The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN) has condemned the arbitrary arrest of Human Rights defenders Ragib Zarakolu and Buşra Ersanlı, who have been charged with the membership of KCK (Kurdistan Communities Union).
On 28 October, 2011, Turkish authorities raided several offices of the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) in Istanbul and arrested prominent Human Right activists Ragib Zarakolu and Buşra Ersanlı, together with some fifty other people, mainly members and executives of the BDP.
The EMHRN condemns the continued policy of arbitrary arrests of human rights defenders and activists in Turkey in particular of IHD members, trade union members, and activists working on the Kurdish issue.
The EMHRN calls upon the Turkish authorities to put an end to the current policy of harassment and arbitrary arrest of human rights defenders in an effort to undermine their work.
The EMHRN asks for the immediately release of Zarakolu and Ersanli, together with the other activists who have been arrested on false charges. It also urges the Turkish authorities to implement international standards related to the right to freedom of association and to freedom of expression in Turkey without delay.