Verdict in Trial of Peace Academics in Mersin: 3 Acquittals, 1 Deferred Prison Sentence

* Photograph: Mersin Yaşam Newspaper

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The Mersin 2nd Heavy Penal Court has announced its verdict in the lawsuit, which was filed against four academics who were discharged from Mersin University as per a Statutory Decree, namely Dr. Lecturer Hakan Mertcan, research assistant Esin Gülsen, Dr. Lecturer Selim Çakmaklı and Dr. Lecturer Mustafa Şener.

At the hearing held in the Mersin 2nd Heavy Penal Court, academics Şener, Mertcan and Gülsen have been acquitted of all charges.

As for academic Selim Çakmaklı, he has been sentenced to 1 year and 3 months in prison for having "propagandized for a terrorist organization" in his Facebook posts. The announcement of his prison sentence has been deferred by the court.

Prosecutor's Office demanded prison sentence for 3 academics

In their indictment, academics Şener, Mertcan, Çakmaklı and Gülsen faced a prison sentence of 2 years and 6 months to 17 years and 6 months due to their social media posts on charges of "propagandizing for a terrorist organization" and "inciting the public to enmity and hatred".

In its opinion as to the accusations, the Prosecutor's Office demanded that Şener, Mertcan, Çakmaklı and Gülsen be acquitted of "inciting the public to enmity and hatred"; Mertcan, Çakmaklı and Gülsen be penalized on charge of "propagandizing for a terrorist organization".

As per the verdict of the court, while Mertcan, Çakmaklı and Gülse have been acquitted of all charges, Çakmaklı has been sentenced to 1 year and 3 months on charge of "propagandizing for a terrorist organization". The announcement of the verdict has been suspended.

What happened?

Dr. Lecturer Hakan Mertcan, research assistant Esin Gülsen, Dr. Lecturer Selim Çakmaklı and Dr. Lecturer Mustafa Şener were dismissed from Mersin University for signing the declaration "We will not be a party to this crime".

Presidency of Mersin University filed a criminal complaint against all academics who signed the declaration. Of the signatory academics, a lawsuit was filed by Mersin Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against Mertcan, Gülsen, Çakmaklı and Şener due to their social media posts.

After their first hearings on March 7, the academics were discharged from the university by the Statutory Decree no. 689 on April 29, 2017. (TP/SD)