KURDISH community members appeared in court today on charges of being part of the banned Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) following raids on their homes and community centres.

Activists gathered outside Westminster magistrates’ court in London as Turkan Ozcan, 59, Mazlum Sayak, 27, Berfin Kerban, 31, Ali Boyraz, 62, Ercan Akbal, 56, and Agit Karatas, 23, faced trial.

A 31-year-old man who was arrested in the raids on November 27, reported in the Morning Star, was released without a charge.

The Britain-based Kurdish People’s Assembly has condemned the charges, calling them “politically motivated” and “unjust.”

It said in a statement: “This aggression is unacceptable and mirrors the systemic oppression many Kurds fled from.

“We reject these oppressive policies, which resemble tactics of authoritarian regimes.

“The UK’s collaboration with the Turkish authorities undermines justice, human rights, and the very notion of democracy and values they claim to hold up.

“Kurds came to the UK escaping persecution. It’s appalling they face similar harassment here.

“We demand the immediate release of our friends and an end to these oppressive actions against the Kurdish community.”

The group also demanded a public apology from the police for their “mistreatment of the community.”