Diyarbakır Bar President Supervised Released

Diyarbakır Bar President Tahir Elçi has been supervised released by the Bakırköy Criminal Court of Peace after he was sent to the court for arrest where his testimony was taken on October 20 upon his words on a program on CNN Türk channel , "PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) is not a terrorist organization." 

bianet obtained information that Elçi would be on trial this morning at Bakırköy Courthouse.  

It was claimed that “Elçi hid away and he couldn’t be found in spite of the efforts”.

Former Bar President Mehmet Emin Aktar was also taken to İstanbul along with Elçi. 

“We are here in İstanbul with Bar President Tahir Elçi. He neither hid nor escaped. Their aim is not to investigate but to insult us. We won’t let this happen,” tweeted Aktar.

Police raided the bar association 

Anti-terror branch team by an armored police vehicle along with riot policemen raided Diyarbakır Bar Association last night and submitted the court’s warrant issue to Elçi.

Upon the request of Prosecution

Public Prosecutor of Bakırköy had launched an investigation against Tahir Elçi when he remarked:

“PKK is an armed political movement even though some of its actions have the characteristics of terrorism. It is a political movement which has been greatly supported and has political demands.”

Bakırköy 2nd Criminal Court of Peace issued a warrant for Elçi’s arrest with allegations of “propagandizing terrorist organization”.

Seized while waiting for an invitation

Tahir Elçi stated that he learned from the media that an investigation had been launched against him and he was waiting at his office for the invitation to give his testimony. However, Elçi wasn’t invited although he had waited until the evening, according to him.

Union of Bars of Turkey: It’s against the law

Union of Bars of Turkey (TBB) made a written statement:

“Elçi’s workplace and residential address are evident. Lawyer Elçi declared he learned from media that an investigation was launched against him and he waited for the invitation at his office. The issue warrant for Elçi’s arrest submitted from Bakırköy 2nd Criminal Court of Peace is clearly against the law.” (AS/BD)

* Photo Credit: Ömer Yasin Ergin / AA

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