2 of 17 People Expressing Support for Academics for Peace Have Their First Hearings

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The trial of two people, who released a new declaration along with 15 others in support of 1,128 Academics for Peace charged with "terror propaganda" for their declaration "We will not be a party to this crime" and informed against themselves at the Prosecutor's Office as an act of civil disobedience, started at İstanbul Courthouse in Çağlayan today (May 23).

CLICK - Activists, Intellectuals Informing Against Themselves to Support Academics

In separate lawsuits filed against them on charge of "propagandizing for a terrorist organization", the first hearings of Halim Bulutoğlu and Zeynep Tanbay were held at the İstanbul 14th Heavy Penal Court.

'This lawsuit violates freedom of expression'

The first hearing held today was that of Zeynep Tanbay. Upon being asked by the judge whether she would make defense, Tanbay gave the floor to her lawyer Bahri Belen, who is also the lawyer of Halim Bulutoğlu.

Stating that they had procedural requests, lawyer Belen stated that the lawsuit filed against his client violates the freedom of thought and expression as guaranteed by the Article 26 of the Constitution.

Referring to the verdict of rights violation given by the Constitutional Court for teacher Ayşe Çelik, who was arrested twice for having said on a live TV program, "Don't let children die, don't let mothers cry", Belen requested the immediate acquittal of Tanbay without any interrogation.

Prosecutor presented opinion as to the accusations

After the defense of lawyer Bahri Belen, the prosecutor presented his opinion as to the accusations. Stating that the conditions for an immediate acquittal of Zeynep Tanbay did not arise, the prosecutor demanded that the trial continue with her statement of defense.

Accordingly, the court board has ruled that the defense of Zeynep Tanbay be taken first and adjourned the hearing to September 24, 2019.

Judge: Will you make the same defense?

After the hearing of Tanbay, the court heard the case of Halim Bulutoğlu. Addressing lawyer Bahri Belen, the judge asked him whether he would make the same defense. Referring to the remarks that he made in the first hearing, Belen answered, "I told you that I would help you gain time. You can copy-paste my defense from Tanbay's hearing."

Considering that the indictment has not been delivered to Bulutoğlu yet, the court has ruled that the next hearing shall be held on September 24.

Lawsuit filed after 39 months

On January 18, 2016, 17 lawyers, journalists and artists submitted a petition to the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and stated that they also undersigned the declaration, for which 1,128 academics were put on trial. They also indicated that they were ready to accept any legal liabilities that would arise as a result of their petition.

The bill of indictment issued 3 years and 3 months later on March 19, 2019 have started to be delivered to some of these 17 people. The indictment in question charges the related people with "propagandizing for a terrorist organization" as per the Article 7/2 of the Anti-Terror Law (TMK).

The following people expressed suport for Academics for Peace:

Arat Dink, Ayşegül Devecioğlu (Writer), Bahadır Altan (Retired military officer), Bülent Deniz (Lawyer), Ceyda Karan (Journalist), Erol Önderoğlu (Journalist), Ferhat Tunç (Musician), Füsun Çeliker, Gürhan Ertür, Halim Bulutoğlu (Businessperson), Necmi Demir (Economist), Necmiye Alpay (Writer), Nergiz Savran (Industrial engineer), Nevzat Onaran (Journalist), Pınar Aydınlar (Musician), Şanar Yurdatapan (Musician) and Zeynep Tanbay (Dancer and choreographer).

What did they say?

The group gathering in front of İstanbul Çağlayan Courthouse on January 18, 2016, in the press statement read by reporter Ceyda Karan, reminded that 1,128 academics have been prosecuted over the following expressions and announced that they put their signature under those words:

"Republic of Turkey has been condemning its citizens in Sur, Silvan, Nusaybin, Cizre, Silopi and many other places under curfew for weeks to starvation and thirst.

"All rights and liberties such as right to live, right to freedom and security, prohibition of torture and ill-treatment which are put under protection by the constitution and international law that Turkey is a party to have been violated by attacking residents with heavy weapons that can be only used in war.

"We demand the curfews to be lifted, those who are responsible for the human rights violations to be determined and punished, the compensation of financial and moral damage of the citizens, and the international independent supervisors to be allowed to enter, observe and report in destruction zones on that purpose.

"We demand that the state ends this war right now. We as citizens of this country declare that we will not remain silent against this massacre and be a party to this crime, and pledge that we will ceaselessly continue our talks in the presence of political parties, the parliament and international public".

(HA/SD)