Arrest Warrant Issued for Musician Ferhat Tunç

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An arrest warrant has been issued for musician Ferhat Tunç.

The hearing of the case where Tunç is being tried for "provoking the people towards hatred and enmity" was held today (March 29).

Tunç's attorney Damla Koç was present at the hearing at the Büyükçekmece 4th Penal Court of First Instance.

The court has issued an arrest warrant for Tunç.

Tunç announced on March 5 that he will be abroad for a while because of successive investigations and lawsuits and a prison term against him.

Lawsuits against Tunç

Having four lawsuits against hiö because of his posts on social media, Tunç is facing a total of 15 years prison term.

He was detained when he returned from Germany on January 13, then released after giving testimony.

Ferhat Tunç was sentenced to 1 year, 11 months, 2 days in prison for "propagandizing for a terrorist organization" by the İstanbul 36th Heavy Penal Court over his social media posts on September 25, 2018.

After this sentence, another case was filed against Tunç for "insulting the President". Büyükçekmece Public Prosecutor's Office in İstanbul launched an investigation into the ten tweets that Tunç posted in 2016. The bill of indictment it prepared was accepted by the Büyükçekmece 7th Penal Court of First Instance. The trial is continuing.

There are also two investigation files against Tunç at the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

Speaking to bianet about the investigation, attorney Fatma Hopikoğlu stated that there are two separate investigations launched against the musician and added that they have not been informed about the details:

"There are two separate investigations against Tunç at Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. One of them is about his remarks during a statement for the press regarding the devastation of Sur (in Diyarbakır).

"Though the nature of this statement was about the protection of historical artifacts, an investigation was launched against him for 'propagandizing for a terrorist organization.' This investigation consists solely of this statement." (HK/VK)