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Culture minister wants to know reason for publisher Zarakolu's arrest

Türkiye Materials 3 November 2011 16:51 (UTC +04:00)
Culture and Tourism Minister Ertugrul Gunay has said he would like to learn the reason why publisher Ragıp Zarakolu was arrested as part of an investigation into the Kurdish Communities Unio
Culture minister wants to know reason for publisher Zarakolu's arrest

Culture and Tourism Minister Ertugrul Gunay has said he would like to learn the reason why publisher Ragıp Zarakolu was arrested as part of an investigation into the Kurdish Communities Union (KCK) as he has never heard about his involvement in any acts of violence Todayszaman reported

Responding to questions from reporters about Zarakolu's arrest on suspected links to the KCK, an alleged political umbrella organization that includes the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) terrorist organization, Gunay said: "I have known him since my school years. I do not know the grounds for his arrest. To be honest, I want to learn the reason. He is a valuable publisher and writer. What are the claims against him? We have the right to know that as a society."

Zarakolu was detained on Friday and was arrested on Tuesday by an İstanbul court along with 43 others, including Professor Bushra Ersanlı. The suspects in the KCK case have been accused of various crimes, including membership in a terrorist organization, aiding and abetting a terrorist organization and attempting to destroy the country's unity and integrity. The suspects include mayors and municipal officials from the BDP, which has said the investigation is the government's method of suppressing its politicians, denying any links between the suspects and terrorist organizations.

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