 Kurds are calling for more political and cultural rights |
A Turkish court has freed the leaders of the country's two main pro-Kurdish parties, who were held for attending a German festival which Ankara says was organised by militants. Tuncer Bakirhan, the chairman of Dehap, and Ahmet Turan Demir of the smaller Free Society Party were detained earlier this week for questioning.
The court also ordered the release of rock singer Haluk Levent and a number of other musicians, who were taken into custody for performing at the event.
 |  These kinds of events will not help Turkey's democratisation or its efforts to solve its problems  |
"We have been set free. I hope today's decision will contribute to Turkey's peace and democracy," Mr Bakirhan said as he left the court. "We have been released and the mistake has been corrected."
Mr Demir added: "These kinds of events will not help Turkey's democratisation or its efforts to solve its problems."
The festival was held in the city of Gelsenkirchen and was arranged by Kurds living in Germany.
Ankara believes that the organising force behind the event was Kadek, the successor to the militant Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
End of ceasefire
The detentions came weeks after a decision by Kadek to end a four-year ceasefire declared when PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan was arrested.
The group accused Turkey of failing to grant Kurds greater political and cultural rights.
More than 30,000 people were killed over a 15-year period as the PKK fought for Kurdish autonomy.
Those held over the festival had faced up to seven years in jail if found to have been "aiding an illegal organisation".
Mr Bakirhan and Mr Demir both made speeches at the event.
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