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In the police operation conducted this morning (March 16) in İstanbul, a police raid has been carried out on the houses of eight lawyers from Libertarian Jurists Association (ÖHD).

The names of the eight lawyers taken into custody are; İrfan Arasan, Ayşe Acınıklı, Hüseyin Boğatekin, Şefik Çelik, Adem Çalışcı, Ayşe Başar, Tamer Doğan and Ramazan Demir.

“Investigation serial number” instead of justification

Attorney Banu Güveren talkin to bianet has noted that they were not not given any justification for the search or custody and added “we only have an investigation number in our hands”.

Güveren has pointed out that also no justification or detail was given in the search order, only the expression “conduct search in their houses, workplaces and vehicles” and that there was a confidentiality order on the case.

The search in the houses of Çelik and Arasan were completed towards 9 a.m. and they have been taken to İstanbul Security Directorate on Vatan Street. The search in Ayşe Başar’s house continues.

Within the operation which was directed at the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) according to the statement of İstanbul Provincial Security Department Anti Terror Department, many others have been taken into custody besides the lawyers in the raids carried out in 32 houses in 16 districts including Beyoğlu, Fatih, Bahçelievler, Avcılar, Esenler, Kadıköy and Sultangazi. (AS/DG)

* Photograph: İslam Yakut – İstanbul / Anadolu News Agency (AA)