Illiterate Farmer Arrested Over Propaganda Via Books Released

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Arrested over the books and magazines they had at their house despite having stated that they were illiterate, farmer Ramazan Akdağ and his wife Halime Akdağ have been released.

Speaking to bianet, their attorney Erdoğan Akdoğdu has announced that the two were released from the prison yesterday (January 2) in the evening hours.

CLICK - ILLITERATE FARMER ARRESTED OVER PROPAGANDA VIA BOOKS

Residing and living off farming in İzmir's Menderes district, Halime Akdağ and her spouse Ramazan Akdağ were arrested on charge of "[illegal] organization propaganda" over the books and magazines they had at their house on December 22.

The investigation, which ended up with a house raid, had started with their daughter's social media posts "being reported".

In his questioning, Ramazan Akdağ stated that he can't read or write. Halime Akdağ said the magazines belong to her, however, they were both arrested by Menderes Criminal Judgeship of Peace.

Reevaluating Attorney Akdoğdu's objection to the arrest, Menderes Criminal Judgeship of Peace has ruled to release the couple.

Attorney Akdoğdu in the petition of objection stated that his client was living in a village, they lived off farming and that their monthly income was around 134 euro.

The attorney added that a previous decision of the Constitutional Court that possessing the respective books did not constitute a crime.

Books of Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) Leader Abdullah Öcalan and Özgür Kadın (Free Woman) magazines had been found in the house.

Considering attorney Akdoğdu's argument in his objection petition, that that there was no risk that his clients would make an attempt to escape, the court decided to release Halime and Ramazan Akdağ yesterday (January 2) (AS/DG)