Arrested Academic for Peace Tuna Altınel: Solidarity Keeps One Alive

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Academic for Peace Assoc. Prof. Tuna Altınel has sent a message to bianet from Balıkesir Kepsut Prison, where he has been held since May 11.

Concluding his message by saying "Solidarity keeps one alive", Tuna Altınel has shared the following message:

"The struggle for peace, justice and democracy has brought me from Lyon to Çağlayan [Courthouse], from Lyon to Kepsut Prison. I don't know where this struggle will take me from now on. But, there is something I know: We will keep on showing the same solidarity with my fellow colleagues, with whom I walk on this road together, and our solidarity will always continue."

He has been behind bars since May 11

Assoc. Prof. Tuna Altınel from the Department of Mathematics at Lyon-1 University was arrested in Balıkesir on May 11, 2019 on the ground of a conference held in France.

Altınel was taken into custody on May 10, when he he went to the Balıkesir Civil Registry to inquire about the restriction imposed on his passport. Being referred to court on duty by the Prosecutor's Office to be arrested, the academic was arrested and sent to Kepsut Type L Prison.

As part of the investigation, Altınel is charged with "propagandizing for a terrorist organization" as per the Article 7/2 of the Anti-Terror Law (TMK).

Altınel is also an Academic for Peace signatory to the declaration entitled "We will not be a party to this crime". Charged with "propagandizinf for a terrorist organization" as part of this lawsuit as well, Altınel's trial has been continuing at the İstanbul 29th Heavy Penal Court. (TP/SD)