Doctors Arrested in Diyarbakır; Operations, Medical Control of Patients Cancelled

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Seven people including rights defenders, doctors and educators have been arrested in Diyarbakır."

The names of those who were among the 12 detainees and were arrested by Diyarbakır Criminal Court of Peace on Duty after their testimonies on Sunday (July 23) and yesterday (July 24) are:

Former presidents of Diyabakır Chamber of Medicine Op. Dr. Selçuk Mızraklı ile Op. Dr. Şemsettin Koç, Human Rights Association (İHD) Central Executive Board member and Middle Anatolian Regional Representative Ali Rıza Yurtsever, retired teacher and Democratic Society Congress (DTK) Health Commission member Zöhre Taş, DTK Council member and former president of Trade Union of Public Employees in Health and Social Services nurse Saliha Aydeniz, Education and Science Workers' Union Central Executive Board member Ebru Yiğit and Mehmet Aydın.

The doctors and the rights defenders are being charged with "being a member of an armed terrorist organization".

In detention for seven days

The rights defenders and doctors were taken into custody on July 19 as a part of an operation launched by Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against "Kurdistan Worker's Party / Kurdistan Communities Union".

10 of the detainees were arrested while two others were released on probation.

Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TİHV) Executive Board member and former President of Diyarbakır Medical Chamber Dr. Necdet İpekyüz was also taken into custody on July 19 and was released after testifying in the evening hours on the same day due to health problems.

"Right to health care violated"

Turkish Medical Association Central Executive Board Member Dr. Şeyhmus Gökalp speaking to bianet stated that due to the arrest of rights defenders and doctors including the two general surgeons Dr. Mızraklı and Dr. Koç, the operations with a determined date had been cancelled and that the medical controls of the operated patients could not be undertaken.

"Our two colleagues could have been summoned to testify, this way, the people's right to health care would not have been violated", Dr. Gökalp added. (AS/DG)