No Acquittal for 4 Signatory Academics in 2nd Hearing

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Second hearing of the trial in which Assist. Prof. Dr. Esra Mungan, Assist. Prof. Dr. Meral Camcı, Assist. Prof. Dr. Muzaffer Kaya and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kıvanç Ersoy are being tried for signing the declaration by Academics for Peace entitled “We will not be a party to this crime” was held today (September 27).

The academics have been charged with “[illegal] organization propaganda”.

Changing the charge in the previous hearing, prosecutor had demanded the Ministry of Justice that they be tried on charge of “defaming Turkishness, the Republic and State’s institutions and organs” but the Ministry hasn’t responded yet. The court had ruled to wait for the decision of the ministry.

The second trial was heard with a new court board.

Attorneys representing the academics demanded that the court reverse its decision of waiting and rule immediate acquittal.

Chief Judge Bülent Dalkıran said they still didn’t have the file. He ruled to wait for the decision and the file from the ministry. The hearing was adjourned to December 22.

The academics were released in the first hearing on April 22. (BK/TK)