Thirty union confederation members acquitted of 'terrorism' charges after 12 years of trials

The case was retried after the Constitutional Court ruled that demonstrations and meetings that the defendants attended could not be cited as a reason for membership of a terrorist organization.

İstanbul

Thirty union confederation members acquitted of 'terrorism' charges after 12 years of trials

Photo: AA

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Thirty members of the Confederation of Public Employees' Unions (KESK) have been acquitted of "being a member of a terrorist organization" in a trial process that has been going on since 2009.

The case was retried after the Constitutional Court ruled in 2015 that the union members' rights were violated.

Some defendants and their attorneys attended the hearing at the İzmir 12th Heavy Penal Court yesterday (October 14).

The defendants said they faced "great unfairness," pointing out the 12 years of trials. Their attorneys also said the defendants and their families were aggrieved because of protracted trials and their actions were not a crime but a constitutional right.

The court acquitted all the defendants.

Speaking about the judgment, attorney Nedim Değirmenci said the evidence in the case was fabricated by police and gendarmerie.

"Sentences were given. The Court of Cassation upheld [the judgment]. An application was filed with the Constitutional Court. Our demands based on the freedom of gathering and the freedom of union activities were accepted.

"It was quite important that the court determined that the actions were not a crime in the retrial."

The KESK İzmir Branches Platform said on Twitter that the acquittals were pleasing despite the "destruction caused in consciousnesses caused by delayed justice."

"The struggle for labor and democracy is a right in the framework of universal norms of law," it said.

What happened?

Members and executives of KESK were arrested and lawsuits were filed against them for being a member of a terrorist organization. Thirty defendants were sentenced to a total of 156 years in prison and the judgment was upheld by the Court of Cassation.

The case was retried after the Constitutional Court ruled that the demonstrations and meetings that the defendants attended could not be cited as a reason for membership of a terrorist organization alone. (KÖ/VK)