Call for Release of "Revolutionary Headquarters" Defendant Yeşiltepe
The Human Rights Association (İHD), the Chamber of Electro Engineers (EMO) and the Contemporary Lawyers Association (ÇHD) are among the institutions that speak up for the release of Mehmet Yeşiltepe from Devrimci Hareket ('Revolutionary Movement') magazine. Yeşiltepe has been imprisoned since April 2009 in the context of the "Revolutionary Headquarters" organization.
The involved organizations will carry out a series of activities starting from 5 February until the hearing on 23 February. Yeşiltepe and another 16 people stand accused of "maintaining connections with the illegal organization". One of the actions, for instance, is going to focus on Yeşiltepe's state of health; the defendant is said to suffer from hydrocephalus.
13 defendants waiting for the hearing in prison for ten months
The Istanbul 9th High Criminal Court brought 17 people to trial in relation to an operation carried out in Bostancı on the Anatolian side of Istanbul on 27 April 2009. One of the defendants is gazetevatan.com website official Aylin Duruoğlu.
The operation was aimed at a building in Bostancı which was supposedly used by the Revolutionary Headquarters organization. Orhan Yılmazkaya, Security Chief of the Anti-Terror Branch Directorate Semih Balaban and by-stander Mazlum Şeker were killed during the operation, eight police officers and two civilians were injured.
According to the indictment released on 15 September 2009, 17 defendants stand trial, including ship captain Necet Öztürk, Selim Öztürk, Ergin Öncü, Muhammet Çetin, Özgür Dinçer, actress Melek Seven, Mustafa Aşula, Abdülselam Sultan, Nail Arıkan and dancer and musician Ceren Sütlaş.
The indictment also mentions that the fact-finding report concerning connections to people involved in the "Ergenekon Investigation" has been sent to the prosecution. Furthermore, it is stated that Fatih Aydın, Cem Bozkurt, Özgür Dinçer and Orhan Yılmazkaya participated in several actions related to the organization.
Calendar of events for Yeşiltepe
5 February, 12.00 pm: a press conference held by intellectuals, writers and artists in the meeting room of the Chamber of Mechanical Engineers Istanbul Branch as part of the Turkey Union of Chambers of Architects and Engineers (TMMOB).
8 February, 12.00 pm: public announcement made by lawyers of the ÇHD and the Istanbul Bar Association about injustice and mistakes regarding the case file.
15 February: Representatives of İHD, the Turkish Medical Association (TTB), the Solidarity Platform for Detained Journalists (TGDP), ÇHD and the Writers Union are going to visit the Tekirdağ No. 1 F Type Prison on the same day. A press release is scheduled for 12.30 from in front of the prison. The participants aim to bring the issue to the attention of the Parliamentary Human Rights Commission and the members of parliament.
16 February, 12.00 pm: in a press release to be made in the İHD Istanbul Branch, TTB, İHD and the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TİHV) are going to draw attention to reports regarding Yeşiltepe's health problems and his detention as contrary to the law.
18 February: a press conference organized by members of parliament and intellectuals. A group of intellectuals is expected to hand a petition to the court on 22 February. (EÖ/VK)