‘We believe that Dr. Şeyhmus Gökalp will be released’

* Photo: İstanbul Medical Chamber

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Turkish Medical Association (TTB) held a press statement ahead of the first hearing of its High Honorary Board member Dr. Şeyhmus Gökalp.

Addressing the public shortly before the hearing on February 10, the TTB demanded "an immediate end to his unlawful and unjustified arrest."

Held at the Cağaloğlu office of the İstanbul Medical Chamber (İTO) yesterday (February 8), the conference was attended by TTB Central Council Chair Prof. Şebnem Korur-Fincancı, İTO Executive Board members Prof. Rukiye Eker Ömeroğlu, Dr. Murat Ekmez, TTB High Honorary Board member Prof. Taner Gören and TTB 2016-2018 term chair Prof. Raşit Tükel.

Emphasis on presumption of innocence

Taking the floor first, Korur-Fincancı underlined that the number of unlawful and unjustified arrests has increased in Turkey in the recent period, adding that freedom of expression and holding peaceful meetings are restricted, which sometimes even leads to arrests and prison sentences.

"We are here today for another case where there is no justice," she said and added: "We want justice for everyone. We want freedom for TTB High Honorary Board member Dr. Şeyhmus Gökalp as well."

Reading out the press statement on behalf of the association, TTB Central Council Chair Prof. Korur-Fincancı reminded that public that "Dr. Şeyhmus Gökalp was arrested based on the statements of an informant anonymous witness about a hospital where he did not work and on the grounds of a legal and legitimate meeting that he had not attended."

Korur-Fincancı said that the imprisonment of Dr. Şeyhmus Gökalp was the "product of such a climate in the country." "We believe that the unlawful and unjustified arrest of our colleague Dr. Şeyhmus Gökalp will end in the trial to be held on February 10," she added further.

Drawing a parallel between the professions of medicine and law, Şebnem Korur-Fincancı underlined that the presumption of innocence and trial without arrest are essential in the profession of judgeship.

Stressing the importance of judicial independence for the profession of law as well as humanity, she also noted that "real evidence, findings and real witnesses must be taken into account in holding a trial."

Taking the floor after Korur-Fincancı, Dr. Rukiye Eker Ömeroğlu, Dr. Raşit Tükel, Dr. Taner Gören and Dr. Murat Ekmez also demanded that "Dr. Şeyhmus Gökalp, who was arrested based on the statements of a calumnious anonymous witness, be released as soon as possible and this unlawful and unjustified situation come to an end."

He faces up to 15 years in prison

TTB High Honorary Board member and former Central Council member Dr. Şeyhmus Gökalp has been arrested in Diyarbakır Type D Prison since November 23, 2020. While 54 pages of the 55-page indictment allege that the Democratic Society Congress (DTK) is an "illegal entity", it demands up to 15 years in prison for the arrested physician.

As the indictment has been accepted by the Diyarbakır 10th Heavy Penal Court, Dr. Gökalp will have his first hearing on February 10, 2021. (AS/SD)