Hackney men deny Kurdish PKK terror group membership

Turkan Ozcan, 60; Macahit Sayak, 28; Berfin Kurban, 31; Ali Boyraz, 63; Ercan Akbal, 56; and Agit Karatas, 23, appeared at the Old Bailey today (September 19).

They pleaded not guilty to membership of the proscribed group, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, also known as the PKK, between March 1 2011 and November 27 2024.

Akbal, Ozcan and Sayak denied arranging meetings in support of the banned organisation.

Akbal, Boyraz and Karatas denied further charges of addressing the alleged gatherings at the Kurdish Community Centre in London.

Judge Rebecca Trowler KC confirmed the defendants face a trial from January 5 2026.

She set further hearings on November 7 and December 12.

Ozcan, from Edmonton; Sayak, from South Woodford; Kurban, from Haggerston; Boyraz, from Tottenham; Akbal, from Leyton;