Court Rules Continuation of Detention Student Ustabaş

Click to read the article in Turkish

Trial of Revolutionary Youth Associations (DGD) Secretary General and İstanbul University Department of Sociology student Berkay Ustabaş continued in İstanbul Courthouse 26th Heavy Penal Court in Çağlayan yesterday (September 5).

Kept in Kırıkkale Type F Prison, Ustabaş wan’t brought to his third hearing either. Ustabaş made his statement of defense via Audio and Visual Information System (SEGBİS). Lawyer Erman Öztürk demanded recusation.

The court board rejected Ustabaş’s request that he attend the hearing in person and ruled that Ustabaş attend the next hearing via SEGBİS. The court also ruled that Öztürk’s demand for recusation be sent to 27th Heavy Penal Court to be considered.

The court said that it was determined that Ustabaş attended Berkin Elvan’s funeral and chanted “Martyrs of the revolution are immortal”, and probation provisions would be insufficient since he was charged with “being a member of an illegal organization” in his ongoing trial held at İstanbul 2nd Heavy Penal Court.

Ruling for the continuation of his detention, the court adjourned the hearing to November 1.

The court board consisted of the following figures: Presiding Judge: Akın Gürlek; Members: Eda Gerdan, Ferhat Gübağça; Prosecutor: Hakan Özer. (TP/TK)