EU Delegation to Monitor and Report on Pınar Selek Case

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European Commission has stated, "Her [Pınar Selek's] case is one of many worrying cases that need a resolution on the basis of the application of the right to a fair trial and of the right to appeal in line with the European Convention on Human Rights and the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights." It has also been indicated that the European Union (EU) Delegation in Turkey will continue monitoring and reporting on the case of Pınar Selek.

In his letter written in response to the attorneys of Pınar Selek, Bernard Brunet from the Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations unit of the European Commission has referred to the Turkey Progress Report of the commission published on April 17, 2018 and made the following statement:

"The European Commission has repeatedly raised its serious concerns about the crackdown on civil society in Turkey, notably in the face of a large number of arrests of activists, including human rights defenders. The 2018 annual report points to shortcomings in the judiciary, including the excessive length of some trials. We regret to hear about further negative developments regarding the case of Ms Pinar Selek. Her case is one of many worrying cases that need a resolution on the basis of the application of the right to a fair trial and of the right to appeal in line with the European Convention on Human Rights and the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights. Turkey as an EU candidate country and a member of the Council of Europe needs to make sure that any alleged wrongdoing or crime is subject to due process and that the right of every individual to a fair trial is respected, as well as the principle of presumption of innocence.

"The European Commission is closely monitoring the ongoing and upcoming trials and detentions in Turkey, and will continue to raise its concerns on these developments at all levels of our continuous dialogue with Turkey. Most recently, President Juncker, in the press conference following the Leader's meeting in Varna on 26 March, called on Turkey to lift the state of emergency and to reconsider arbitrary detentions.

"We are informed that the Delegation of the European Union in Turkey has already been in contact with you and they will continue monitoring and reporting on the situation of this case."

What happened?

Having been tried and acquitted three times in the Egyptian Bazaar Explosion in 1998, Pınar Selek was sentenced to life on January 24, 2013.

Upon her appeal, Supreme Court 9th Penal Chamber overturned the verdict.

On October 3, 2014 the case opened again with the judge ordering the removal of life sentence and arrest warrant for Selek.

On December 5, 2014 reiterating his former opinion again, prosecutor recharged Pınar Selek with aggravated life sentence.

Pınar Selek was acquitted for the fourth time in the hearing held on December 19, 2014. The prosecutor appealed the decision on December 22, 2014. The file was sent to Supreme Court General Board.

Supreme Court Chief Prosecutor's Office demanded that the acquittal decision be reversed. The case, which was sent by penal chambers to each other due to assignment dispute, lastly came to Supreme Court 9th Penal Chamber. (ÇT/SD)