78s Initiative Spokesperson Celalettin Can Detained

Spokesperson of the 78s Initiative Celalettin Can has been detained in his home in the morning during a police raid. Can will be taken to İzmir to depose. His wife Nimet Tanrıkulu has said, “Had he been summoned, he would go to the Prosecutor's Office.”

Ayça Söylemez

78s Initiative Spokesperson Celalettin Can Detained

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Spokesperson of the 78s Initiative and Party Assembly member of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Celalettin Can was detained this morning (January 18) in his home in İstanbul and was brought to the Ataköy Police Station by police officers.

Can's wife Nimet Tanrıkulu has told bianet that the police conducted a detailed search in the home. She added that Can did not have a computer because of the police search in the home last year and the computer in the home was confiscated although it was hers.

Celalettin Can was detained in his home during a police raid on February 7, 2018. He was arrested 14 days after the detention and was held in the Silivri Prison until June 27, 2018.

Order from İzmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office

Nimet Tanrıkulu has given the following information regarding the happenings in the morning:

"A police team comes early in the morning and informs that they have been sent by the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Officer upon the order of the İzmir Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.

"Although extensive searches were previously made in the home and everything is already under record, a detailed search is made in the home again. The computer in the home is confiscated although it belongs to me. An attorney was not present during the search.

"The second police team which arrives the home takes Can into custody and brings him to the Ataköy Police Station. There, they say that Can will be taken to İzmir by plane to depose."

"Had Prosecutor's Office summoned him, he would go"

Tanrıkulu has said that had Can been summoned, he would go to the Prosecutor's Office to depose.

"Celalettin is a person who openly expresses his thoughts anywhere, who does not hide his thoughts. A person who makes efforts for human rights, democracy, peace... What are they trying to prevent by detaining him?

"Moreover, he is not a person who is on the run and cannot be found. He openly attends many meetings. Police detains him all the time and he did not run up to this time. He would go by himself if he was summoned."

About Celalettin Can

Celalettin Can is the Spokesperson of the 78s Initiative as well as a party assembly member and 27th Term MP candidate of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP). He is 59 years old.

He was born in Dersim and moved to İstanbul for education in 1975. Engaging in the revolutionary struggle, he became the Chair of the Dev-Genç (Revolutionary Youth).

He was arrested in 1979, shortly before the military coup on September 12, 1980. He stayed in prison for 19 years and 9 months.

He was released from prison in late 1999 and founded the Foundation of the 78s.

In 2013, he became a part of the 63-membered Central Anatolia Committee of the Wise People.

He has two books: 78'liler Sorguluyor (The 78s are questioning) and Merhaba Başkaldırı (Hello uprising).

(AS/VK)

Ayça Söylemez

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Boğaziçi Üniversitesi Felsefe Bölümü mezunu. Mimar Sinan Güzel Sanatlar Üniversitesi Sosyoloji bölümünde yüksek lisans yaptı. Marmara Üniversitesi İletişim Bilimleri’nde doktora yapıyor. Vatan, Akşam, HaberTürk ve Hürriyet gazetelerinin yazıişleri ve dış haberler bölümünde çalıştı. Güncel Hukuk dergisinde yazıları yayınlandı. BirGün’de Anonim adlı köşeyi yazıyor. 2011’den bu yana bianet’te İnsan Hakları Editörü.