Released 5 months ago, DBP Diyarbakır Co-Chair Gülmez arrested again

* Photo: Mezopotamya Agency (MA)

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Detained as part of an investigation, Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Diyarbakır Provincial Co-Chair Seval Gülmez has been arrested by the court that she was referred to following her detention.

After her images taken during an event at the DBP Diyarbakır office in Turkey's Kurdish-majority southeastern Diyarbakır province were shared on social media, the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation against the DBP provincial executives.

As part of this investigation on charge of "propagandizing for a terrorist organization", the police launched an operation against the DBP Diyarbakır office and searched the office on January 26, 2022.

As she had tested positive for novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and was in quarantine, DBP Provincial Co-Chair Seval Gülmez was taken into custody as part of the operation after her quarantine ended.

Gülmez was detained on January 29. Undergoing a medical check before being taken to the courthouse, Gülmez tested positive for COVID-19 again. She was released to quarantine at her house.

Testing negative for the virus afterwards, Gülmez was detained again, taken to the security directorate and referred to the courthouse.

Taking the statement of Seval Gülmez, the prosecutor referred her to the Criminal Judgeship of Peace with a request for her arrest. Facing charges for having attended 21 events, activities and condolence ceremonies, giving interviews and over 4 books found at her house, Gülmez has been arrested by the judgeship as part of the investigation for "terror propaganda".

She was released in September

Gülmez was taken into custody in a police operation along with 26 women on April 5, 2021 and arrested on charge of "being a member of a [terrorist / illegal] organization". She was released at her first hearing at the Diyarbakır 11th High Criminal Court on September 6. (HA/SD)