Investigation Request for 395 Academics in Ankara

Click here to read the article in Turkish / Haberin Türkçesi için buraya tıklayın. 

Ankara Chief Prosecution has asked the Ministry of Justice permission to launch investigation into the signees of the declaration of “We will not be a party to this crime” who fall under the judicial district of Ankara.  

According to the report of the state run Anadolu News Agency (AA) Chief Prosecutor Mehmet Taştan has requested permission to launch investigation into 395 of the 1,128 signees of whom 164 are in Ankara and 2,331 are abroad on the basis of Turkish Criminal Law (TCK) Article 301 regulating “Defaming the Turkish Nation, State of Turkish Republic, its institutions and organs”.

Mahir Akkar, a suspect of the Ergenekon Case, had filed a criminal complaint on January 15 against the academics in judicial district of Ankara on charges of “propagandizing for the terrorist organization and defaming the Turkish Nation, State of Turkish Republic, its institutions and organs”.

What had happened?

1,128 academics from 89 universities in Turkey, and over 355 academics and researchers from abroad had signed a text calling on state of Turkey to end state violence and prepare negotiation conditions.

As the campaign was completed, the number of the academics and researchers signing the declaration had reached 2,212 in Turkey an 2,279 abroad.

Following the declaration investigations have been launched into at least 47 academics in 11 provinces among others who have been taken into custody. (BK/DG)