* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA) - Archive
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The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Rapporteurs have released a joint statement following the conviction of Amnesty International Turkey's Honorary Chair Taner Kılıç, İdil Eser, Günal Kuşun and Özlem Dalkıran in Büyükada trial on July 3.
Signed by Alexandra Louis (France, ALDE), Thomas Hammarberg (Sweden, SOC) and John Howell (UK, EC/DA), the statement has expressed "deep concerns over the conviction of four human rights defenders in Turkey."
Alexandra Louis, the PACE General Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders in Council of Europe member states, has stated:
"While I welcome the acquittal of seven other activists at the same time, I am shocked by the heavy prison sentences handed down against Taner Kılıç, İdil Eser, Günal Kuşun and Özlem Dalkıran - on charges related to terrorism offences, which according to several sources are unfounded.
"These convictions raise serious concerns about the functioning of the judiciary and respect for the rule of law in Turkey. In addition, they will have a new deterrent effect on the work of human rights defenders in Turkey, which is of great concern to me."
The monitoring co-rapporteurs for Turkey, Thomas Hammarberg and John Howell, have also expressed their concerns:
"These verdicts are regrettable and very serious. They could further contribute to silence dissenting or critical voices that are essential to the proper functioning of a democracy. We urge the Turkish authorities to revise legislation, in particular the Anti-Terror Law, and to change judicial practices to ensure the exercise of freedom of expression and assembly."
"We call on the Turkish authorities to review the Istanbul court's judgment in light of the standards of the European Convention on Human Rights, to respect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of human rights defenders and to refrain from all acts of intimidation or reprisal against them." the three rapporteurs have concluded.
What happened?On July 5, 10 rights advocates from various rights organizations were taken into custody during a training workshop with the topic "Protection and digital security of human rights advocates" in Büyükada, one of the Prince Islands in İstanbul. Nothing was heard from detained rights defenders for 30 hours. On July 18, Idil Eser (Amnesty International Turkey Director), Özlem Dalkıran (Citizens' Assembly / formerly called Helsinki Citizens Association), Günal Kurşun (Human Rights Agenda Association), Veli Acu (Human Rights Agenda Association), Ali Garawi (citizen of Sweden / human rights trainer), and Peter Steudtner (citizen of Germany / human rights trainer) were arrested on charges of "committing crimes on behalf of the terrorist organization without being a member" (Article 220/6 of Turkish Penal Code/TCK ) and "being a member of an armed terrorist organization" (Articles 314/2 and 314/3 of TCK). On July 23, İlknur Üstün (Women's Coalition) and Nalan Erkem (Citizens' Assembly / formerly called Helsinki Citizens Association), who were released on probation with an international travel ban, were arrested upon the prosecutor’s objection to their release. Amnesty International Turkey Executive Board Chair Taner Kılıç, who had been in pre-trial detention since June 2017 in another case, was included in the bill of indictment of Büyükada lawsuit later as a suspect. According to the bill of indictment prepared by Public Prosecutor Can Tuncay, the rights defenders are claimed to be members of the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization/Parallel State Organization (FETÖ/PDY), Kurdistan Workers' Party/Kurdistan Communities Union (PKK/KCK) and The Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C). On October 25, the court ruled that Günal Kurşun, İlknur Üstün, İdil Eser, Nalan Erkem, Peter Steudtner, Özlem Dalkıran, Ali Garawi and Veli Acu be released. In addition, an international travel ban was imposed on Özlem Dalkıran and Veli Acu, and the probation order for Şeyhmus Özbekli and Nejat Taştan that was issued on July 25, was revoked. The file of Kılıç, who stood trial in a separate case held before İzmir 16 Assize Court on charge of "financing terrorism and spying" and was later included in the indictment of Büyükada lawsuit as a suspect, was combined with the main Büyükada Case. 11 rights defenders had their final hearing at the İstanbul 35th Heavy Penal Court on July 3. Announcing its ruling, the court board has ruled that Taner Kılıç shall be sentenced to 6 years, 3 months in prison for "organization membership" while Günal Kuşun, İdil Eser and Özlem Dalkıran shall be sentenced to 1 year, 13 months in prison for "aiding the organization." Nalan Erkem, İlknur Üstün, Ali Gharavi, Peter Steudtner, Veli Acu, Nejat Taştan and Şeyhmus Özbekli have been acquitted. |
(EKN/SD)
