Reason for Trainee Solicitor's Arrest: Visiting North Korea

* Photograph: Çiçek Tahaoğlu – North Korea, 2011

Click to read the article in Turkish

Cemil Kurt, who was held at the same prison with his attorneys, has been released after the attorneys' appeal.

Attorney Aytaç Ünsal and trainee solicitor Naim Eminoğlu, who are running the judicial process regarding Cemil Kurt, are staying in the same cell at the Burhaniye Type T Prison in Balıkesir province. All three are facing charges related to the Revolutionary People's Liberation Front (DHKP-C).

Kurt was detained at the Gençlik Federasyonu (Youth Federation) building in 2017 in Okmeydanı, İstanbul and was arrested for being in that building.

"We continue working as attorneys inside four walls"

Naim Eminoğlu was arrested on October 12, 2017, when he was working as a trainee solicitor at the Ankara Bar Association.

In a letter he wrote to bianet, Eminoğlu told about the situation:

"The court ruled for Cemil's release on December 6, 2018. But he did not get out of prison because he was arrested for another charge in a separate case that he was being tried for damaging public property. I penned the petition for that case and our client was emancipated on December 18, 2018.

"I would like to deliver this good news to you. Even inside the four walls, we continue to work as attorneys."

"I visited North Korea legally"

Eminoğlu also told about the judicial process regarding himself:

"I was not able to complete my internship because of the arrest. My trial is continuing at the İstanbul 26th Heavy Penal Court.

"What is the 'major offense' that caused me to be arrested for 15 months? An anonymous witness deposes that I went to North Korea in 2017.

"Yes, I have been to North Korea to attend the celebrations of the 100th birthday of the founding President of the Democratic Republic of North Korea. Is it a crime to go to a country to participate in touristic activities?

"The anonymous witness tries to present my visit, which I made with my legal passport, as a crime."

What happened?

17 attorneys from the Progressive Lawyers Association (ÇHD) and People's Law Bureau (HHB) appeared before the judge on September 10, 2018, after being arrested for a year. A verdict of release were issued for them in the hearing which was held on September 14 and the attorneys were released on September 15. Prosecutor's Office appealed against their release and the court issued an arrest warrant for 12 of the attorneys. The lawyers are charged for offenses related to the DHKP-C. (AS/VK)