Released Elçi Slams Jurisdiction, Government

Diyarbakır Bar President Tahir Elçi has been released on the condition of judicial control and a ban on leaving the country after his testimony was taken in the Criminal Judicature of Peace due to his words "PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) is not a terrorist organization".

Elçi on the way out of courthouse said, "What happened here has shown how difficult to discuss this matter in a healthy way" in his statement to bianet.

"Official discourse is still a taboo"

Elçi said, "We see that certain words are still a taboo, and statements conflicting official discourse cause disturbance and reaction in jurisdiction and government.

Today we saw how jurisdiction approaches freedom of speech. When we don't speak within the limits drawn by government and a specific political party, you face arrest warrants and investigations.

CLICK - Diyarbakır Bar President Released

Detention at his post with the allegation of "couldn't be found"

Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has started a probe into Elçi's words "Even though some acts have the feature of terrorism, PKK is an armed political movement. A political movement that has political demands and a serious support behind it" said on TV channel CNN Türk on October 14.

Even though it is claimed in the warrant that "he couldn't be found despite all efforts," Elçi was detained in his post.

Support to Elçi from rights organizations

Human rights organizations and associations too reacted against the detainment of lawyer Elçi.

Human Rights Association (İHD), reminding that though Elçi waited all night in bar building to be invited for testimony, he was raided by police this morning to be taken to İstanbul by plane:
"Accusing Elçi of 'not defining PKK as a terror group' and forcing him to say 'PKK is a terror group' is a violation of Article 18 of Universal Declaration of Human Rights."

Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TİHV) says "we stand by one of our founders, Elçi" and gave coverage to statements from Liberalist Jurists Association (ÖHD), Modern Jurists Association (ÇHD), and Community Center Civil Chamber:
"Now we are facing a governorship and a jurisdiction tied to it that has lost their mental faculties. We refute a jurist be detained by defying rights guaranteed by constitution, law and international agreements for expressing his opinions."

Human Rights Joint Platform (İHOP) "This practice against Diyarbakır Bar President Tahir Elçi just for expressing his thoughts is a serious violation of human rights, and freedom of expression and conscience."

Human Rights Agenda Assoication (İHGD) has drawn attention in its administrative board to Elçi's contribution to human rights movement of Turkey as of 1990: "Our member Elçi's non-violent words should be seen in accordance with European Convention of Human Rights." (AS/TK)

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