Prosecutor Appeals Pınar Selek’s Acquittal

Prosecutor appealed to the acquittal verdict on Pınar Selek, a sociologist who was ordered to stand trial for the forth time regarding the 1998 Grand Bazaar Blast Incident despite having acquitted from all charges three times before. 

While the fourth acquittal verdict was issued on Friday, the case is pending for Court of Cessation General Penal Council.  

“What is happening here is so clear that you don’t need to comment on it. We hope that this victimization will be over,” Advocate Seyda Selek said. 

During the court of cessation process, Selek’s advocate will submit their defenses through statements. According to the law, those defendants who get an acquittal are exempted from making their defenses - except severe cases. 

Seyda Selek told bianet that the situation violated European Convention of Human Rights on the right to fair trial.

“The plaintiff is being represented but we can only submit statements. On the top of that, we are discussion about aggravated life sentence which is a severe case. However, the public wants to see an end of this case. I hope they are. We hope that this victimization will be over after this moment,” she added. 

What happened?

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

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

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

On December 5, reiterating his former opinion again, prosecutor recharged Pınar Selek with aggravated life sentence. (ÇT/BM)

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.