4.  The applicants were born in 1970, 1970, 1966, 1974 and 1970 respectively, and live in Diyarbakır. 5.  The applicants were taken into custody on the following dates: the fifth applicant on 6 January 1994, the first three applicants on 9 March 1994, and the fourth applicant on 19 March 1994. The applicants were arrested on suspicion of membership of the PKK (the Kurdistan Workers’ Party), an illegal organisation. 6.  On 20 January 1994 a single judge at the Muş Magistrates’ Court remanded the fifth applicant in custody. 7.  On 31 March 1994 a single judge at the Muş Magistrates’ Court remanded the other applicants in custody. 8.  On 16 March 2004 the Diyarbakır State Security Court convicted the applicants of carrying out activities for the purpose of bringing about the secession of part of the national territory under Article 125 of the former Criminal Code, and sentenced them to life imprisonment. 9.  By Law no. 5190 of 16 June 2004, published in the Official Gazette on 30 June 2004, State Security Courts were abolished. The case against the applicants was transferred to the Diyarbakır Assize Court. 10.  On 6 June 2005 the Court of Cassation quashed the judgment of 16 March 2004 in respect of the applicants and remitted the case to the first‑instance court. 11.  On 16 November 2007 the Diyarbakır Assize Court convicted the applicants under Article 125 of the former Criminal Code and again sentenced them to life imprisonment. 12.  On 20 January 2008 the applicants appealed. 13.  According to the information in the case file, the case is still pending before the Court of Cassation.