Yesterday (April 10, 2012), Istanbul 15. High Criminal Court ruled for the release of 15 defendants, including publisher and journalist Ragıp Zarakolu, who were being held in connection with the Istanbul leg of the Union of Kurdistan Communities (KCK) case. For a report in English, see Bianet.
Zarakolu's arrest on October 28, 2011, had led to widespread criticism of the judiciary and had also contributed to the growing awareness of Turkey's problems with democracy and human rights.
Professor Büşra Ersanlı, more than 100 journalists, and hundreds of students, as well as some of their lawyers continue to be detained in Turkish prisons.
