Istanbul Bar Association Board Member Epözdemir detained: Organizational activities
Fırat Epözdemir, a member of the Istanbul Bar Association Board of Directors, has been detained as part of a terror investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.
İHA
As part of an investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office aimed at uncovering the activities and members of the PKK/KCK armed terrorist organization, it was determined that suspect Fırat Epözdemir, a member of the Istanbul Bar Association Board of Directors, was a member of the HDK (Peoples' Democratic Congress), which serves as the organization's infrastructure. Examinations of digital materials obtained during previous operational efforts revealed that he participated in organizational activities by being part of a WhatsApp group named 'Diren Cizre' (Resist Cizre) created in 2015.
Suspect Epözdemir, who was also identified in a photograph with a piece of cloth symbolizing the so-called flag of the PKK/KCK armed terrorist organization, was apprehended and detained upon his arrival at Istanbul Airport from abroad. It was learned that search operations at Epözdemir's home and law office are ongoing.
"INSTEAD OF BEING SUMMONED FOR TESTIMONY..."
A statement from the Istanbul Bar Association indicated that the process is being monitored.
The statement included the following: "Our Board Member, Attorney Fırat Epözdemir, was detained today at Istanbul Airport upon his return from the Council of Europe Defenders meeting in Strasbourg, which he attended 4 days ago. Applying a detention procedure instead of summoning him for testimony is clearly unlawful, and the process is being followed by our Bar Association."