Turkish court releases Kurdish writer, politician Mahmut Alınak

A court in the eastern province of Kars has ruled for the release of Kurdish politician, writer and lawyer Mahmut Alınak during the first hearing of the case that he was arrested. "My father was released. Hope the same happens to all political prisoners," Bişar Abdi Alınak, his son, said in a tweet on May 13.

Duvar English

A court has ruled for the release of Kurdish politician, writer and lawyer Mahmut Alınak during the first hearing of the case that he was arrested.

"My father was released. Hope the same happens to all political prisoners," Bişar Abdi Alınak, his son, said in a tweet on May 13.

The 68-year-old former People’s Labor Party (HEP) deputy was detained on Feb. 13 during a raid at his home in the eastern province of Kars. He was held in police custody for four days in a detention center cell with no heating system amid freezing winter conditions.

Despite his health problems, the court ordered Mahmut Alınak's arrest on Feb. 17 over a number of charges, including "disrupting the unity of the state and the country," as well as "weakening the state's independence" and "separatism" and the former HEP deputy was put behind bars for the 10th time.

Following two months of imprisonment, the Kars Second Heavy Penal Court ruled for the release of Alınak, for whom prosecutors seek life sentence.

Life sentence sought for Kurdish politician Mahmut Alınak on dubious chargesLife sentence sought for Kurdish politician Mahmut Alınak on dubious chargesBar associations call for immediate release of Kurdish writer, politician Mahmut AlınakBar associations call for immediate release of Kurdish writer, politician Mahmut Alınak