Two Journalists in Tekirdag Prison

Ugur Balik, head of board of directors of the Dicle News Agency (DIHA) and Baris Gullu, who owns the patent for the "Ozgur Halk" (Free People) magazine, were arrested on suspicion of being connected to the "Kurdistan People's Congress" (KONGRA-GEL). Their lawyer will object to their arrest.

Balik and Gullu were detained on June 8 and sent to the State Security Court (DGM) after remaining under detention for four days. They were then sent to the Bayrampasa Prison. They are expected to be transferred to the Tekirdag F-type prison on Friday or Saturday.

DIHA's chief editor Mehmet Ali Celebi, editor Evin Katurman, reporter Meryem Yilmaz, culture-arts reporter Beyhan Sekman and Kurdish service reporter Kenan Kirkaya, who were also detained on the same day and taken to the prosecutor's office, were later released. Kirkaya was detained on his way out and taken to the military service bureau for having some problems with his military service.

With permission from the Istanbul DGM prosecutor's office, police had detained 25 media employees working at DIHA agency, "Ozgur Halk" and "Genc Bakis" (Young View) magazines. (EA/YE)