Former HDP Muş MP Özkan Released

* Photo: AA/Archive

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After the Court of Cassation overturned the prison sentence of Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) former Muş MP Burcu Çelik Özkan and ruled that "she shall be released immediately", Özkan was released from Kocaeli Kandora Prison yesterday evening (October 16).

After the verdict of the local court was overturned by the court of appeal, Burcu Çelik Özkan was put on trial again and, this time, she was sentenced to 7 years, 3 months and 10 days in prison.

Sentenced to prison for "membership of a terrorist organization", Özkan's prison sentence has been overturned by the Court of Cassation.

What happened?

Burcu Çelik Özkan was detained and arrested in Muş on April 19, 2017 and sent to Kocaeli Kandıra No. 1 Type F High Security Penal Institution.

Charged with "membership of a terrorist organization", "propagandizing for a terrorist organization" and "inciting the public to enmity and hatred", Özkan was acquitted of all offenses charged on October 6, 2017.

In the same hearing, the Muş 1st Heavy Penal Court combined the files for which it gave a verdict of acquittal and sentenced Özkan to six years in prison on charge of "committing crimes on behalf of the organization as a non-member". Her lawyers appealed against this ruling.

The 2nd Penal Chamber of the Erzurum Regional Court of Justice, the court of appeal, overturned the ruling of the local court and ruled that Burcu Çelik Özkan should be put on trial again at the 2nd Penal Chamber.

After the verdict of the Muş 1st Heavy Penal Court was overturned by the court of appeal, her case was heard again and, this time, she was sentenced to 7 years, 3 months in prison. The Court of Cassation overturned this prison sentence given for "membership of a terrorist organization". (RT/SD)