JINHA

AMED –Esra Yakar, a medical student arrested after returning from volunteer medical work in Kobanê, will appear before a judge today. The Democratic Society Congress (DTK) Parliament of Young Free Medical Professionals has called for Esra's immediate release. The hearing, originally planned for this morning, has been delayed until an afternoon timeslot.

Fifth-year Dicle University medical student EsraYakar traveled to Kobanê to volunteer as a medic treating civilians and YPG/YPJ members. She was wounded and traveled to Turkey for medical treatment, whereupon she was arrested. Esra has now been transported from the Ankara-Sincan Prison to Diyarbakır (Kurdish name Amed) for a hearing at the Diyarbakır 4^th Heavy Penal Court.

The DTK young professionals called a gathering outside the courthouse today in support of Esra. The medical students, doctors and human rights workers in attendance, including members of the Turkish Medical Association and Human Rights Association, bore photos of Esra and chanted slogans in support of her and the Kobanê resistance.

Elif Turan, a Dicle University medical student, condemned the detention of Esra, who is seriously wounded.

"By using sick prisoners as bargaining chips, the AKP government is executing policies that do not conform to international law and that should not be seen in the peace process," said Elif, referring to the AKP government'swidespreadand life-threatening detention of political prisonersin need of medical attention.

(tt/fk/cm)