Death fasting lawyers 'have not days but hours left'
Photo: İdil Fosem / Twitter
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The Freedom for Defense Coordination continued its demonstration in front of Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital in İstanbul's Bakırköy, where Timtik is held.
Attorney Dinçer Çalım from the Progressive Lawyers' Association (ÇHD) İzmir recalled that the Forensic Medicine Institution (ATK) concluded that the lawyers could not stay in prison and it was not suitable for them to stay in hospital as they did not accept treatment, the Mesopotamia Agency reported.
"The Ministry of Justice should listen to the voice here. The voice here is the voice of justice. A fair trial is a right," he added.
ÇHD Vice-Chair Ümit Büyükdağ said that they expected the Court of Cassation to give a verdict immediately about the application of the lawyers.
Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) MP Musa Piroğlu said that the judiciary was being used as a weapon against human life and added that Timtik and Ünsal had not days but hours left.
Saying that the courts are acting on "orders," Piroğlu remarked that the responsibility is not only on those who give orders but also on those who apply them.
The Human Rights Association (İHD) İskenderun Branch also called for the urgent release of the lawyers.
What happened?Announcing its verdict in the lawsuit filed against ÇHD lawyers on March 20, the court ruled that the lawyers should be sentenced to 3 years, 1 month, 15 days to 18 years, 9 months in prison. The 2nd Penal Chamber of the İstanbul Regional Court of Justice rejected the objections and sent the file to the Court of Cassation. CLICK - 18 Lawyers Sentenced to Prison for 159 Years, 1 Month, 30 Days in Total CLICK - Judge first upheld prison sentence, then examined the file The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office of the Court of Cassation expressed the opinion that the prison sentences of all lawyers, except for the one given to lawyer Barkın Timtik, be upheld. The letter of notification only indicated that the prison sentence of 18 years, 9 months given to Barkın Timtik for "establishing and leading an organization" as per the Article 314/1 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) should be overturned and he should also be penalized for "membership of an organization" like other lawyers. The letter of notification issued by the prosecutor's office has been sent to the 16th Penal Chamber of the Court of Cassation. CLICK - Court of Appeals Upholds 159-Year Prison Term for Progressive Lawyers Association Members Lawyer Ebru Timtik, an executive of the ÇHD, and lawyer Aytaç Ünsal, a member of the ÇHD, went on a death fast for the right to a fair trial on January 2 and February 2, respectively. The İstanbul Forensic Medicine Institution released its first report on the health conditions of death-fasting arrested lawyers Ebru Timtik and Aytaç Ünsal on July 30 and, for both of them, the Forensic Medicine Institution said that "it was not suitable for them to stay in prison." After this report was issued in early morning hours, the attorneys of Timtik and Ünsal submitted a petition to İstanbul 37th Heavy Penal Court, presenting both this medical report and their request for release. 152 petitions written by lawyers abroad and petitions signed by dozens of lawyers in Turkey requesting their release were also added. Examining the application of the attorneys, the İstanbul 37th Heavy Penal Court has ruled that the arrest of lawyers Timtik and Ünsal shall continue. The court has also ruled that "a writ shall be written to the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office so that the necessary can be done to urgently ensure their medical follow-up and treatment in hospital conditions." Shortly after the court's ruling, the lawyers were hospitalized. Previously in Silivri Prison, Timtik was taken to at Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital in Bakırköy district and Ünsal was taken to Kanuni Sultan Süleyman Training and Research Hospital in Küçükçekmece district from Burhaniye Prison. Their attorneys submitted an appeal to İstanbul 38th Heavy Penal Court against the rejection of the release request. The ÇHD lawyers' case is currently in the examination at the 16th Penal Chamber of the Court of Cassation. |
(AS/VK)