Kadir Şeker’s attorneys appeal against his prison sentence

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

Standing trial for stabbing a man named Özgür Duran while he was trying to prevent him from inflicting violence on his partner Ayşe D. in Konya on February 5, Kadir Şeker was sentenced to 12 years, 6 months in prison. The court board has also ruled that the arrest of Şeker shall continue.

As reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), the attorneys of Kadir Şeker have lodged an appeal against the ruling and appealed to the Konya Regional Court of Justice, the upper court.

Konya Bar Association Chair Mustafa Aladağ has said that the incident happened while Şeker was trying to help a woman and, therefore, the act in question should have been considered within the scope of self-defense.

"We have submitted a petition of objection to the Court of Appeals for Kadir Şeker. We will present our detailed petition of appeal after the detailed ruling is notified to us. We have also objected to the continued arrest of Kadir Şeker," Konya Bar Chair Aladağ has indicated further.

What happened?

According to allegations, preparing for the university entrance exams, Kadir Şeker saw a man battering his partner in a park in Selçuklu, Konya on February 5. When he went to intervene, he was verbally and physically attacked by Özgür Duran. While Duran reportedly chased after Şeker and battered him, he was stabbed by Şeker in the ensuing fight.

Stabbed in his chest, Duran was taken to the Selçuk University Faculty of Medicine Hospital in an ambulance. He lost his life there.

Following the blood traces on the ground, police officers found Şeker in his maternal aunt's home, where he lived, and took him into custody. Kadir Şeker was remanded in custody by the judgeship.

Accepted by the Konya 3rd Heavy Penal Court, the indictment demanded 12 years to 18 years in prison for Şeker on charge of "wilful killing under unjust provocation." Some women also launched a social media campaign, demanding that Kadir Şeker be not penalized.

The local court handed down its judgement on October 14, 2020 and sentenced Şeker to 12 years, 6 months in prison. His attorneys have appealed against both this verdict and his continued arrest. (EMK/SD)