ISTANBUL (Reuter)–Turkish police began on Friday to deport 15 foreign peace activists detained for organizing an unauthorized news conference–security officials said.
"Three German citizens were expelled this morning. The other 12 will be deported later in the day," a police officer told Reuters.
The activists were detained on Wednesday after security forces broke up the impromptu news conference at an Istanbul hotel about ways to find a peaceful end to Turkey’s Kurdish conflict.
They came to Turkey to campaign for a negotiated end to 13 years of conflict between security forces and the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).
Police officials said earlier that the news conference was forbidden under a law which bars demonstrations in Turkey by foreigners who have not obtained prior permission.