Verdict of Release Issued for Celalettin Can and 8 HDP Members

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A verdict of release was issued for the Spokesperson of the 78s Initiative Celalettin Can and eight other members of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Abdulselam Yolcu, Erhan Sarıkaya, Vahit Dalgıç, Filiz Yılmaz, Gonca Yangöz, M.Şamil Altan, Nevzat Yılmaz and Taylan Talaş yesterday (June 27).

İstanbul 28th Heavy Penal Court ruled, "Considering their period of imprisonment; the fact that the benefits to be derived from their imprisonment can also be obtained through conditions of probation; taking some of the inmates' state of health into consideration; and on the condition that they have not been arrested or convicted on other charges, the inmates in question shall be immediately released from prison."

An international travel ban has been imposed on the released.

The court also ruled that the imprisonment of Atilla Şayir, Bedia Aydemir, Can Memiş, Gülistan Aydın, Gülsen Biter, Hasan Hüseyin Gençer, Metin İlan, Suphi Yıldız and Taylan Urun shall continue.

Celalettin Can was under arrest together with 18 executives of the HDP/HDK (Peoples' Democratic Congress) since February 20, 2018. The court case was filed against 29 people, 18 of whom were arrested, on charge of "being members of a terrorist organization".

The indictment against Can and 33 other people, who had been under arrest for five months, was prepared by the Prosecutor Orhan Aydın. The indictment was accepted on April 9, 2018.

What happened?

Celalettin Can was taken into custody in a police raid conducted on his house on February 7, 2018. He was held in custody for 14 days.

During his period of detention, he was kept in a small and stuffy room at the Anti-Terror Branch of İstanbul Security Directorate and could not take the medicine that he was supposed to take due to his illness. He suffered from serious health problems.

He was arrested together with 16 executives of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) and Peoples' Democratic Congress (HDK) on February 20, 2018.

His applications regarding his state of health mostly remained unresponded by the Silivri Prison, where he was kept. When he was taken to the campus hospital inside the prison or referred to Silivri Public Hospital, he underwent medical examination in handcuffs.

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).

(HK/AS/SD)