German FM: Release of Rights Defenders is an Encouraging Signal

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IT specialist Peter Steudtner from Germany has left for Germany. Steudtner was among the eight rights defenders who were detained during a meeting in Büyükada, İstanbul, and were released in the first hearing held at İstanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan.

“There are other citizens of Germany in prison”

Stating that he is pleased with the release decision, German Minister of Foreign Affairs Sigmar Gabriel said, “This is an encouraging signal, a first step”.

Noting that “there are other citizens of Germany kept in prison on unintelligible reasons”, Gabriel stated that they will determinedly continue their efforts the release of those citizens kept in prison.

“We are grateful to those who have been supporting us”

In his statement, Steudtner said, “We all are very relieved now. We are grateful to those who have legally and diplomatically supported and acted in solidarity with us”.

On his Twitter account, spokesperson for the government Steffen Seibert said, “Finally! Peter Steudtner and other human rights defenders are being released. We are happy for them and our thoughts are with those who are still in prison”. 

What happened?

On July 5, 10 rights advocates from various rights organizations were taken into custody during a training workshop with the topic "Protection and digital security of human rights advocates" in Büyükada, one of the Prince Islands in İstanbul. Nothing was heard from detained rights defenders for 30 hours.

It was later revealed that the detention warrant had only been issued five hours after the advocates had already been taken into custody.

On July 11, an additional seven days of detention were issued for the rights advocates.

On July 17, the rights advocates were sent to court for arrest on charges of "committing crimes on behalf of an illegal organization as non-members", and "being a member of an illegal organization".

On July 18, Eser, Dalkıran, Kurşun, Acu, Gharavi and Steudtner were arrested. Erkem, Üstün, Taştan and Özbekli were released on probation and an international travel ban was imposed on them.

On July 21, the prosecutor objected to the release of the four rights advocates and a detention warrant was issued for them. Detained while at their homes, Üstün and Erkem were arrested on July 23.

On July 25, Taştan and Özbekli were released on probation with travel bans. Özlem Dalkıran, Peter Steudtner, Ali Gharavi, Veli Acu, Günal Kurşun, İdil Eser and Nalan Erkem are still being kept in Silivri No. 9 F-type Prison and İlknur Üstün is behind bars in Sincan Closed Prison for Women.

According to the indictment submitted to İstanbul Heavy Criminal Court, rights advocate Taner Kılıç, Amnesty International Turkey Chair, who was added to the indictment later as a suspect" faces from 7.5 to 15 years in prison on the charge of "Being a member of an armed terrorist organization" and the other rights advocates are facing from 5 to 10 years in prison on the charge of "committing crimes on behalf of the terrorist organization as non-members" (Article 220/6 of Turkish Penal Code) and "being a member of an armed terrorist organization" (Articles 314/2 and 314/3 of Turkish Penal Code). (PT/ÇT/TK)