Rights Activist Selek Still On Trial Regarding Spice Market Blast

11 years after the case, the Supreme Court of Appeals overthrows acquittal of Selek and demands her trial with life imprisonment. 200 intellectuals voice support for Selek's innocence.

Emine Özcan

More than 200 intellectuals have expressed their support for rights activist and writer Pınar Selek, as the Supreme Court of Appeals rules for her trial with life imprisonment, concerning the blast in İstanbul's Spice Market (Mısır Çarşısı), for a third time.

The incident on 9 June 1998 left seven dead and 127 injured. Selek was acquitted for a second time in 2008 on allegations of bombing the place, as the court failed to establish if the blast was caused by a bomb or by the explosion of a LPG tank in a restaurant.

Actress Jülide Kural read the statement of support during the gathering today in Amargi women's center.

"Dedicating her life to defending the rights of victims and to peace, Selek would be tried in the case where she has been acquitted twice. This case ceased to be about law and justice. We believe in Selek's innocence and stand witness to her struggle against all kinds of violence."

Lawyer Mebuse Tekay declared that they would do anything in their power to get justice out of this case. Author Oya Baydar called on everyone to gather behind Selek.

International PEN Turkey chairperson Tarık Günersel demanded an end to "this wearisome case that has continued for 11 years now."

Those voiced support for Selek so far are as follows:

Belgin Çelik, Emma Sinclair Webb, Fatih Polat, Kemal Aytaç, Mahir Günşiray, Mazlum Çimen, Mehmet Atak, Melek Ulagay, Meltem Ahıska, Meral Tamer, Merhet Tarhan, Murat Çelikkan, Murat Morova, Neslihan Akbulut, Nil Mutluer, Nilgün Yurdalan, Nükhet Sirman, Oya Baydar, Ragıp Zarakolu, Sema Aslan, Sennur Sezer, Silva Bingaz, Sibel Yalın, Şükran Soner, Taha Parla, Tarık Günersel, Tuba Kancı, Tuğrul Eryılmaz, Ümit Şahin, Ülkü Özakın, Vildan Yirmibeşoğlu, Yıldırım Türker, Yıldız Ramazanoğlu, Zeynep Direk, Zeynep Oral. Ali Nesin, Aslı Erdoğan, Aslı Güneş, Filiz Kerestecioğlu, Kemal Aytaç, Meriç Eyüboğlu, Mebuse Tekay, Av. Yasemin Öz, Ayça Damgacı, Ayfer Tunç, Aynur Seyrek, Ayşe Akdeniz, Ayşegül Devecioğlu, Ayşegül Sönmez, Belgin Çelik, Bennu Yıldırımlar, Büşra Ersanlı, Can Candan, Canan Arı, Deniz Türkali, Dilek Kurban, Emma Sinclair Webb, Erdal Karayazgan, Erol Kızılelma, Fatih Polat, Ferhat Kentel, Feyyaz Yaman, Fırat Genç, Filiz Karakuş, Filiz Oğuz, Garo Paylan, Gencay Gürsoy, Gülay Kayacan, Gülnur Savran, Gülseren Onanç, Halil İbrahim Özcan, Halil Savda, Havva Yılmaz, Hüseyin Karabey, Jale Karabekir, Jale Parla, Julide Kural. (EZÖ/AGÜ)