4 Arrested Academics Released

Click here to read the article in Turkish / Haberin Türkçesi için buraya tıklayın

Four academics Assist. Prof. Dr. Esra Mungan, Assist. Prof. Dr. Meral Camcı, Assist. Prof. Dr. Muzaffer Kaya, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kıvanç Ersoy appeared before judge today (April 22).

The court ruled release of the academics in the trial that ended at 6 p.m.

The first hearing of the suit brought against the academics on charge of "terror propaganda" was held by İstanbul 13th Heavy Penal Court.

The participation was high in the hearing. International delegation representatives, academics, MPs of Republican People's Party (CHP) and Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) were among the attendees.

Release demand from the prosecutor

The prosecutor has changed the charges to Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK), which regulates the crimes of "insulting Turkish nation, government of Republic of Turkey, and Turkish state", requested the case to be consulted to the Ministry of Justice on the basis of the quality of the crime, and that asked for the continuation of detention due to "nature of the crime, and doubt of escape".

Following the hearing break, the prosecutor changed his dictum, asked to be waited for the ministry's response, and demanded release of the academics.

The attorneys of the academics objected to the decision noting that the dictum is unintelligible in terms of law technique and two crimes will be attributed to a single crime in such a situation, stated that it has to be clarified.

At the end of the hearing, the court as per the prosecutor's demand ruled release of the academics. (BK/TK)