Yüksel Koç, former co-chair of the Congress of Kurdistan Democratic Communities in Europe (Kongreya Civakên Demokratîk ên Kurdistaniyên li Ewrupa-KCDK-E), was arrested by the Federal Court in Karlsruhe on May 20 under Article 129b of the German Criminal Code on charges of “membership of a terrorist organization” and subsequently transferred to Bremen Prison.
According to information obtained from the Kurdish politician’s lawyer, Fatma Sayın, the court in Karlsruhe today ruled that he will be tried without detention on condition that he signs in twice a week. Lawyer Fatma Sayın stated, “The court took into full consideration my client’s personal circumstances, including the fact that he has lived in Germany for 35 years, holds permanent residency, all living members of his family reside in Bremen, and both his home and workplace are located in Bremen.”
According to information provided to ANF by the Koç family, Mehriban Koç, born in 1937, passed away yesterday at the Koç family home in Bremen. Yüksel Koç learned of his mother’s death in the courtroom today.