Mümtazer Türköne released

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Arrested shortly after the coup attempt on July 15, 2016, journalist Mümtazer Türköne was released yesterday (September 24).

His release came after the Court of Cassation reversed his 10-year prison sentence on charge of being a member of the FETÖ, which is held accountable for the failed coup attempt, and ruled for his release.

Speaking to Halk TV regarding the release of her client, attorney Figen Çalıkuşu has briefly stated the following:

"Türköne's file was seen to be in the examination phase last week. That stage was the one right before the ruling.

"After the examination is completed, it is submitted to the board and the ruling is handed down. So, the file has been finalized.

"He left prison. He is now taken to his home. His family is concerned that he has health problems. I met him in prison last week, he was quite healthy.

"The Court of Cassation has probably handed down a ruling on his file that he has been released. His prison sentence of 10.5 years must have been reversed and a ruling of release must have been given for him.

"As the amended law on criminal enforcement excluded terror crimes, he cannot benefit from this legislation. Therefore, the Court of Cassation must have reversed the sentence.

"But I still cannot access the file at the Court of Cassation. These are my guesses. When I access the file, I can give more clear information."

Bahçeli said 'his case should be reevaluated'

Devlet Bahçeli, the Chair of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), which is an ally of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), shared some social media messages about Mümtazer Türköne on June 23.

"Today marks the 41st anniversary of the martyrdom of our martyr Mustafa Türköne from the [Nationalist] Idealist Hearths.

"He fell a martyr on June 23, 1979, when I was 21 years old. His elder brother Mümtaz'er Türköne is in jail. I know Mümtaz'er Türköne from his school years. He had several writings and statements in opposition.

"The Turkish jusitce system is the sole authority that will decide whether Mümtaz'er Türköne, who is the elder brother of our [nationalist] idealist martyr and who strived for our cause in the past, is really guilty or not. It will be possible to clarify the offenses charged against Mümtaz'er Türköne in a fair and rightful trial.

"I wish that this unlawfulness will be eliminated immediately if there is any such unlawfulness. In a place where several problematic people such as Osman Kavala, Altan brothers and Nazlı Ilıcak are attempted to be portrayed as innocent people, the trial of Mümtaz'er Türköne, the elder brother of a martyr, should be reexamined."

'I did not want his acquittal'

A few days later, on June 28, Bahçeli also gave an interview to Önder Yılmaz from daily Milliyet. Referring to his above remarks, Bahçeli reminded that "Türköne was a person, with whom they had gone their separate ways and who had heavily criticized them."

"However, he is the brother of our martyr. We did not say that 'he was innocent or did not have any contact with the FETÖ.' We did not want his acquittal. We want him to be tried fairly on whatever crime he committed and his file to be carefully finalized as soon as possible," he added.

Most recently, he also spoke to Şebnem Bursalı from the pro-government daily Sabah on July 21. He reiterated that "he did not say whether Türköne was guilty or not as that decision was to be given by the Turkish system."

(EKN/SD)