Arrested Doctors in Diyarbakır Have Been Released

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Former presidents of Diyabakır Chamber of Medicine Op. Dr. Selçuk Mızraklı and Op. Dr. Şemsettin Koç who were taken into custody on July 19 in an operation launched by Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against "Kurdistan Worker's Party / Kurdistan Communities Union" as a part of an investigation into the Democratic Society Congress (DTK), were released on Friday (September 8) evening.

The names of those who were among the 12 detainees taken into custody as a part of the same investigation and were arrested by Diyarbakır Criminal Court of Peace on Duty after their testimonies on July 23-24 are:

Former presidents of Diyabakır Chamber of Medicine Op. Dr. Selçuk Mızraklı and 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".

Reevaluating the Koç and Mızraklı being kept in detention on remand in Diyarbalır D-type Prison, the board of judges decided that both be released. 

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

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. (YY/DG)