10 Beşiktaş Fans Arrested over “Nuriye, Semih Shall Live” Banners

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10 Beşiktaş sports club fans have been arrested on the charge of "propagandizing for a terrorist organization" for holding banners reading "Nuriye Semih Shall Live" during a game with Konyaspor.

The Samsun Chief Prosecutor's Office issued warrant to forcibly take 17 fans holding banners for "terror propaganda".

According to sendika.org, police raided houses and took 10 members of the Beleştepe fan group (a fan group of Beşiktaş Sports Club) in custody yesterday (August 16). The fans were arrested in the evening hours except for one supporter who was detained and then released on probation.

As of now, 11 people have been arrested and three others have been released on probation due to banners.

What happened?

During a football match played in Samsun in August, Beleştepe fans group unfolded a banner reading "Nuriye Semih Shall Live" to support arrested academics Nuriye Gülmen and Semih Özakça. Gülmen and Özakça have been on a hunger strike in order to be reinstated to their jobs after being discharged through a statutory decree issued under the State of Emergency.

Samsun Chief Prosecutor's Office, releasing a written statement on the issue, announced that a "warrant has been issued to forcibly take 17 people identified to have held banners supporting Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front DHKP-C armed terrorist organization and its militants.

Beleştepe fans group member Volkan Çalışkan was arrested on August 13 and sent to Sincan Prison. Two other fans were released on probation after testifying. (BK/DG)