DEATH FASTING LAWYERS
HDP deputy calls on parliamentary human rights comittee to take action for Aytaç Ünsal
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Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) MP Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu has called the parliament's Human Rights Inquiry Committee for an emergency meeting regarding the situation of lawyer Aytaç Ünsal, who has been on a death fast for 212 days, demanding a fair trial.
Lawyer Ebru Timtik, who had been on a death fast together with Ünsal, lost her life Friday (August 28).
Both lawyers were forcibly hospitalized on July 30 after the court rejected to release them despite a Forensic Medicine Institution report stating that it was not suitable for them to stay in prison.
CLICK - Death fasting lawyer Ünsal addresses an open letter to Minister Soylu
The Constitutional Court rejected the lawyers' application for release on August 14, stating that they were not in a critical condition.
In his application to the Committee, MP Gergerlioğlu noted that Ünsal has been held in a place with "more severe conditions than a prison" for 33 days despite being in a life-threatening situation.
Ünsal is held in a room for prisoners in the hospital. The room has no ventilation and lights are always kept on, Gergerlioğlu noted.
"It is stated that Aytaç Ünsal was unable to sleep regularly because of the gendarmes who enter in, he has pain in his legs, his arms are numb, lesions are appearing on his body, he had difficulty walking, and Aytaç Ünsal, whose file is at the Court of Cassation is still waiting for a verdict," he said.
He requested the Committee to hold an emergency meeting, examine the situation and visit Ünsal at the hospital.
The trial and death fast of the lawyersAnnouncing its verdict in the lawsuit filed against ÇHD lawyers on March 20, the court ruled that the lawyers should be sentenced to 3 years, 1 month, 15 days to 18 years, 9 months in prison. The 2nd Penal Chamber of the İstanbul Regional Court of Justice rejected the objections and sent the file to the Court of Cassation. CLICK - 18 Lawyers Sentenced to Prison for 159 Years, 1 Month, 30 Days in Total CLICK - Judge first upheld prison sentence, then examined the file The Chief Public Prosecutor's Office of the Court of Cassation expressed the opinion that the prison sentences of all lawyers, except for the one given to lawyer Barkın Timtik, be upheld. The letter of notification only indicated that the prison sentence of 18 years, 9 months given to Barkın Timtik for "establishing and leading an organization" as per the Article 314/1 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) should be overturned and he should also be penalized for "membership of an organization" like other lawyers. The letter of notification issued by the prosecutor's office has been sent to the 16th Penal Chamber of the Court of Cassation. CLICK - Court of Appeals Upholds 159-Year Prison Term for Progressive Lawyers Association Members Lawyer Ebru Timtik, an executive of the ÇHD, and lawyer Aytaç Ünsal, a member of the ÇHD, went on a death fast for the right to a fair trial on January 2 and February 2, respectively. The İstanbul Forensic Medicine Institution released its first report on the health conditions of death-fasting arrested lawyers Ebru Timtik and Aytaç Ünsal on July 30 and, for both of them, the Forensic Medicine Institution said that "it was not suitable for them to stay in prison." After this report was issued in early morning hours, the attorneys of Timtik and Ünsal submitted a petition to İstanbul 37th Heavy Penal Court, presenting both this medical report and their request for release. 152 petitions written by lawyers abroad and petitions signed by dozens of lawyers in Turkey requesting their release were also added. Examining the application of the attorneys, the İstanbul 37th Heavy Penal Court has ruled that the arrest of lawyers Timtik and Ünsal shall continue. The court has also ruled that "a writ shall be written to the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office so that the necessary can be done to urgently ensure their medical follow-up and treatment in hospital conditions." Shortly after the court's ruling, the lawyers were hospitalized. Previously in Silivri Prison, Timtik was taken to at Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital in Bakırköy district and Ünsal was taken to Kanuni Sultan Süleyman Training and Research Hospital in Küçükçekmece district from Burhaniye Prison. Their attorneys submitted an appeal to İstanbul 38th Heavy Penal Court against the rejection of the release request. The ÇHD lawyers' case is currently in the examination at the 16th Penal Chamber of the Court of Cassation. |
(AS/VK)