Trial of 10 Academics Held

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Trial of Academics for Peace members who signed the declaration entitled “We Will not be a Party to This Crime” continues on its fifth day.

The hearings in İstanbul Courthouse 36th Heavy Penal Court started at 9:30 a.m.

According to the indictment prepared by Prosecutor İsmet Bozkurt, the academics are being charged with "Making Propaganda for a Terrorist Organisation", based on the Article 7/2 of the Turkish Anti-Terror Act and Article 53 of the Turkish Penal Code.

First hearings of 50 people have been held so far.

1st hearing

The hearing of İpek Merçil from Galatasaray University began at 9:30 a.m. Merçil stood ready in the courtroom. Lawyer İlkan Koyuncu stated that the trial has continued by Turkish Penal Code (TCK)/301 even though it started by Anti-Terror Law (TMK) 7/2 and said that it must be determined according to which code trial will proceed.

Merçil and her lawyers said that they will make the statement of defense after it is decided.

The next hearing is on April 26 at 9:00 a.m.

2nd hearing

Lawyer of the academic tried in the second hearing said that his or her client couldn’t attend due to his or her medical condition. The next hearing is on April 26 at 9:10 a.m.

3rd hearing

Güven Gürkan Öztan from İstanbul University stood read in the courtroom.

Pointing to European Court of Human Rights’ decisions in the past, lawyer Sevgi Kalan said that her client exercised his freedom of expression and demanded his acquittal.

Stating that the charge pressed against the defendant necessitates a trial, prosecutor requested the denial the demand for acquittal.

The chief judge rejected the demand for acquittal.

The next hearing is on April 26 at 9:20 a.m.

4th hearing

Lawyer of the academic tried in the second hearing said that his or her client couldn’t attend due to his or her medical condition. The next hearing is on April 26, 2018.

5th hearing

Academic Tevfik Hakan Ongan discharged from İstanbul University stood ready in the courtroom.

His lawyer Arın Gül Yeniaras said that Ongan saw and signed the declaration on the social media, he was discharged through a statutory decree and according to the administrative investigation launched by the university administration, it was suggested that a reprimand be imposed on him.

“We demand that your honor render a just verdict by not taking the news reports and political authorities’ statements into consideration”, lawyer Yeniaras added and demanded acquittal of Ongan.

Ongan said that he will not depose now.

Stating that the charge pressed against the defendant necessitates a trial, prosecutor requested the denial the demand for acquittal.

The chief judge rejected the demand for acquittal.

The next hearing is on April 5, 2018.

6th hearing

Retired academic Gülhan Türkay from İstanbul University stood ready in the courtroom.

Her lawyer Emel Ataktürk demanded immediate acquittal of her client.

Stating that the charge pressed against the defendant necessitates a trial, prosecutor requested the denial the demand for acquittal.

The chief judge rejected the demand for acquittal.

The next hearing is on April 26, 2018.

7th hearing

Academic Sinan Yıldırmaz from İstanbul University didn’t attend the hearing. His lawyer Fuat Ekin demanded acquittal of his client.

Stating that the charge pressed against the defendant necessitates a trial, prosecutor requested the denial the demand for acquittal.

The chief judge rejected the demand for acquittal.

The next hearing is on April 5, 2018.

8th hearing

Academic İbrahim Kaboğlu discharged from Marmara University stood ready in the courtroom.

As many as 20 lawyers were present in the courtroom for constitution professor Kaboğlu. The chief judge stressed the limitation of three lawyers and said that the rest of the lawyers should watch the hearing as observers.

9th hearing

Taner Gören from İstanbul University stood ready in the courtroom.

His lawyer Meriç Eyüboğlu demanded immediate release of Gören.

Lawyer Ziynet Özçelik requested that the cases be combined.

Stating that the charge pressed against the defendant necessitates a trial, prosecutor requested the denial of the demand for acquittal.

The chief judge rejected the demand for acquittal.

The next hearing is on April 26, 2018.

10th hearing

Academic Ertan Ersoy discharged from İstanbul University didn’t attend the hearing. The next hearing is on April 26, 2018.

What happened?

The Peace Declaration of the Academics "We will not be a party to this crime" was shared with the public on January 11, 2016 in a press conference. 1,128 academics from 89 universities as well as over 355 academics and researchers from abroad had signed the peace declaration.

On January 12, 2016, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressing the academics said, “You so-called intellectuals are dark and ignorant”.

Following this statement, more academics signed the declaration to support the signatory academics. The figure reached 2,212 with the second wave of signatory academics.

Doors of academics were marked and threat messages were left in many universities.

As of January 15, tens of academics across Turkey were detained following house raids, discharged or prosecuted.

On March 10, 2016, a press conference was held on behalf of Academics for Peace/İstanbul group. The statement read out by Assist. Prof. Dr. Esra Mungan, Assist. Prof. Dr. Muzaffer Kaya, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kıvanç Ersoy and Assist. Prof. Dr. Meral Camcı stated that they insist on their demand for peace.

Mungan, Kaya and Ersoy were arrested on May 15, 2016. Camcı was abroad at that time and she was arrested on her return to Turkey on March 31, 2016. All four figures were charged with “propagandizing for an illegal organization”. The four academics were released on April 22, 2016.

380 academics were discharged through the statutory decrees issued in the wake of the State of Emergency. Tens of academics working at foundation universities were discharged as well. (BK/TK)