“Turkey is using the judiciary to revenge from the opposition”

* Photo: Anatolian Agency (AA) - Archive

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The Court of Cassation's decision to uphold a prison sentence given to Canan Kaftancıoğlu has been condemned in Europe.

CLICK - Court of Cassation upholds Kaftancıoğlu's prison sentence with a political ban

Nacho Sánchez Amor, European Parliament (EP) Standing Rapporteur on Turkey (since September 2019) shared a message from his official Twitter account about it and condemned the decision.

On Wednesday, (May,11) European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee approved its 2021 report about Turkey by stating that "Turkey is persistently getting away from EU values and standards"

In this respect, Sánchez Amor drew attention to the timing of the decision given by the Court of Cassation in his message.

"Only hours after today's vote on the EP Turkey report, it's already outdated by dark news" he wrote.

????????Court of Cassation has uphold 3 sentences against opposition figure @Canan_Kaftanci, CHP Istanbul chair, with a prison term of almost 5 years! She might go to jail or get a political ban. Only hours after today's vote on EP #Turkey report and it's already outdated by dark news pic.twitter.com/CemAbEIqc7

— Nacho Sánchez Amor (@NachoSAmor) May 12, 2022

 'Kaftancıoğlu is innocent'

The European Socialists Party (PES) also condemned the decision given by the Court of Cassation about Kaftancıoğlu.

"The PES recognises this decision as yet another clear sign that the judicial system in Turkey is being used to take revenge on the opposition. We condemn the actions of President Erdogan and his government and stand in full support with Ms Kaftancıoğlu, the leader of our associate member party CHP, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, and the countless opposition politicians subject to threats, oppression, and imprisonment in Turkey."

"The PES condemns this sentence, which leaves Ms Kaftancıoğlu facing potential jail time or a complete ban from politics."

We regret the decision of the Turkish court. @Canan_Kaftanci is innocent. We stand alongside our friends from @herkesicinCHP. Read our statement here - https://t.co/PGGrEGafmp pic.twitter.com/IQ3oMlfuPS

— PES ???????????? (@PES_PSE) May 12, 2022

 'It is a political decision'

Socialists, Democrats & Greens Group in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe(SOC) defined the decision of the court as illegal.

"We firmly condemn this violation of rule of law and human rights in Turkey," the SOC stated.

We stand in full solidarity with our Group member CHP of Turkey @herkesicinCHP and their Istanbul Chair @Canan_Kaftanci who has been sentenced to prison after an unlawful and political trial process. We firmly condemn this violation of rule of law and human rights in Turkey. pic.twitter.com/YBarIZHdPC

— SOC GROUP COE (@socpace) May 12, 2022

 What happened

The Court of Cassation has handed down its judgment about the prison sentence given to Canan Kaftancıoğlu, the İstanbul provincial chair of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP).

The court upheld three of the five sentences given to Kaftancıoğlu because of her social media posts, including some from 10 years ago. The total duration of the upheld sentences is 4 years and 11 months.

In September 2019, the politician was sentenced to a total of 9 years and 8 months in prison on charges of "propagandizing for a terrorist organization," "insulting a public official," "insulting the president," openly degrading the state of the Republic of Turkey, " and "inciting people to animosity and hatred."

An appeals court upheld the sentences in June 2020.

The Court of Cassation upheld the sentences of 1 year, 6 months and 20 day for "insulting a public official" and "openly degrading the state of the Republic of Turkey." It also upheld the sentence for "insulting the president" but changed its duration from 2 years and 4 months to 1 year and 9 months.

It overturned the sentence of 1 year and 6 months for "propagandizing for a terrorist organization" and of 2 years and 8 months for "inciting the people to animosity and hatred.

The court also imposed a political ban on Kaftacıoğlu.(SD/TB)