Court sends 6 KESK members to prison, releases KESK head

Özgen was taken into custody on Monday.

At least 70 people were detained on Monday under orders from the Ankara Specially Authorized Prosecutor's Office. On Thursday, 34 of these suspects appeared before a court. Twelve were released and 22, all alleged KESK members, were sent to prison. On Friday, the same court heard 13 suspects, ordering six of them to be arrested and releasing the other seven. The court is scheduled to hear at least 20 others who were detained on Monday to decide whether they will be arrested or released.

The investigation into the KCK, which prosecutors say is an umbrella organization for the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and other affiliated groups, was launched in December 2009, and a large number of suspected KCK members, including several mayors from the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP), have been detained.