Verdict challenged by prosecution in Progressive Lawyers Association case

Drawing: Murat Başol

Click to read the article in Turkish

The verdict for the lawyers from Progressive Lawyers Association (ÇHD) and People's Law Bureau (HHB) was challenged by the prosecution.

Prosecutor Haluk Tunç requested that the appeal period should not begin running saying "the above stated judgment will be appealed for correction since it includes aspects that are against the law or without due process of law."

The İstanbul 18th Heavy Penal Court had on November 11 ruled that its decision could be appealed not at the Regional Court of Justice, but directly at the Court of Cassation, the country's top appeals court.

With the verdict Selçuk Kozağaçlı was sentenced to 12 years in prison for "being a member of a terrorist organization" and 1 year for "propagandizing for a terrorist organization;" Barkın Timtik to 12 years in prison for "being a member of a terrorist organization" and 7 years for "propagandizing for a terrorist organization" 1 year for "resisting the security forces" and 6 months "for participating in an illegal demonstration" and Oya Aslan 10 years 6 months in prison for "being a member of a terrorist organization" and 6 years for "propagandizing for a terrorist organization."

The verdicts for the other lawyers were as follows:

Taylan Tanay, Betül Vangölü Kozağaçlı, Güçlü Sevimli, Gülvin Aydın: 6 years and 3 months in prison for "being a member of a terrorist organization." The announcement of the verdict for "propagandizing for a terrorist organization" was deferred.

Güray Dağ, Efkan Bolaç, Serkan Arıkanoğlu, Mümin Özgür Gider, Metin Narin, Sevgi Sönmez, Alper Tunga Saral, Rahim Yılmaz, Selda Yılmaz: 6 years and 3 months in prison for "being a member of a terrorist organization"

Özgür Yılmaz: 1 year in prison for "propagandizing for a terrorist organization" (Because he had a finalized sentence for "being a member of a terrorist organization," this charge was dropped in this case.)

Şükriye Erden: Announcement of the verdict for "propagandizing for a terrorist organization" was deferred. (Because she had a finalized sentence for "being a member of a terrorist organization," this charge was dropped in this case.)

Naciye Demir: The announcement of the verdict for "propagandizing for a terrorist organization" was deferred.

Files of the defendants Zeki Rüzgar and Günay Dağ were separated.

The case against Ebru Timtik, who lost her life in a death fast demanding a fair trial was dropped. (AS/PE)