YARSAV President Murat Arslan Arrested

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Kenan Türk, judge at Ankara 7th Criminal Court of Justice has decided that Murat Arslan, President of the Association of Judges and Prosecutors (YARSAV) closed down in the State of Emergency and former judge at Court of Accounts be arrested.

Arslan was taken into custody on October 19 in the morning hours as a part of the investigation by Ankara Public Chief Prosecutor’s Office - Ankara Bureau on Crimes by Public Officials into the inspectors of the Court of Accounts linked with the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization / Parallel State Organization (PDY).

He was arrested yesterday (October 26), on charge of “being a member of an armed terrorist organization in accordance with Article 314/2 of the Turkish Criminal Code (TCK).

The Association of Judges and Prosecutors (YARSAV) under Arslan’s presidency was also among other institutions which were closed down in accordance with the Statutory Decree issued in the State of Emergency. The closure announced on July 23 on the Official Gazette.

Reactions from lawyer organizations

Progressive Lawyers Association Ankara Office as to the arrest of Murat Arslan has said “The witch hunt against leftists, intellectuals and opponents has started” and that Arslan had been an honorable judge who stood against injustice his entire life.

The Union of Judges had also condemned that Murat Arslan had been taken into custody in a house raid. The union in its statement had pointed out that associating Murat Arslan and YARSAV with the Gülen Community would be wrong. (AS/DG)