The new Turkey
Academics for Peace 1-10 March 2019

05-Apr-2019

4 March:
Court of Appeal Upholds First Prison Sentence of an Academic for Peace

With the indictment issued by Prosecutor İsmet Bozkurt, lawsuits were filed against the Academics for Peace on charge of "propagandizing for a terrorist organization" as per the Article No. 7/2 of the Anti-Terror Law No. 3713. On April 4, 2018, the İstanbul 32nd Heavy Penal Court ruled that Üstel should be sentenced to 1 year and 3 months in prison. The court deferred neither the announcement of the verdict*, nor the prison sentence.

As of March 3, 2019, 10 academics, including Zübeyde Füsun Üstel, did not accept that the announcement of their verdicts be suspended. Including the files of academics sentenced to more than 2 years, the files of 27 academics in total have been taken to the court of appeal so far. Read the full article

5 March:
25-Month Prison Sentence for One Academic, Arrest Warrant for Another

Prison sentence for Prof. L.N.
In the 25th Heavy Penal Court, the fourth hearing of Prof. Dr. L.N. was held. L.N. did not attend the final hearing as she/he requested exemption in the previous hearing. L.N.'s attorney Erdal Doğan was present at the hearing. Raising the final defense, attorney Doğan said that his client is a scientist and makes efforts for all the peoples of Turkey to live together. Stating that the bill of indictment was filed upon the Anti Terror Law Article 7, the attorney said it is irregular.

Arrest warrant for Research Associate Yalçın
Research Associate Refet Ali Yalçın's second hearing was held at the 37th Heavy Penal Court. Yalçın did not attend the hearing as he is abroad. His attorney Oya Meriç Eyüboğlu was present at the hearing. Eyüboğlu stated that her client is abroad, and it is not clear when he will return. The attorney requested either rogatory or the trial to be adjourned to summer months. Read the full article

6 March:
Deferred Prison Sentence of 15 Months for 2 Academics
Having their final hearings at the İstanbul 36th and 37th Heavy Penal Courts, Deniz Parlak and S.U. have been each sentenced to 1 year and 3 months in prison on charges of "propagandizing for a terrorist organization." The announcement of both verdict has been deferred.*

At the İstanbul 25th Heavy Penal Court, the request of academic B.U.'s attorney for a rejection of venue has been accepted. The court board has ruled that the case file of the academic shall be sent to the Ankara Heavy Penal Court on Duty. Read the full article

6 March:
One Academic Sentenced to 1 Year, 6 Months in Prison
Başak Tuğ Onaran from İstanbul Bilgi University has been sentenced to 1 year, 6 months in prison. While her prison term has not been reduced since “she did not express remorse”, the announcement of the verdict has been suspended.

18 academics had their hearings at three different court.
At the İstanbul 23rd Heavy Penal Court, academics Esra Sakınç, Seda Altuğ, Gamze Toksoy, Evren Hoşgör Çimen, İrfan Eroğlu and Sefa Feza Arslan presented their statements of defense. The court board ruled that the case files of six academics shall be combined.

7 March:
Prosecutor Demands 2 Academics Be Penalized for ‘Aiding Organization
Announcing his opinion as to the accusations, the prosecutor of the 37th Heavy Penal Court demanded that Ömer Faruk Yekdeş be penalized on charge of "propagandizing for a terrorist organization" as per the 1st and 2nd sentences of the Article 7/2 of the Anti-Terror Law (TMK).

Seven academics had their hearings at four different courts

8 March:
Human Rights Association: Demand for Peace Cannot Be Punished
Human Rights Association has released a statement of solidarity for Prof. Dr. Füsun Üstel, the first Academic for Peace whose prison sentence has been upheld:

“We call the national and international academic community to stand against this injustice.” Read the full article


8 March:
Deferred Prison Sentence of 1 Year, 3 Months for One Academic
Having the first hearing at the 30th Heavy Penal Court, Y.Ö. has been sentenced to 15 months in prison. The announcement of the verdict has been deferred. At the 33rd Heavy Penal Court, a verdict of rejection of venue has been given for 13 academics.

At the İstanbul 30th Heavy Penal Court: academic Y.Ö. had the first hearing.

At the İstanbul 33rd Heavy Penal Court: Assoc. Prof. Selima Güzelsarı,retired Dr. Lecturer Cesim Çelik from Abant İzzet Baysal University; Research Assistants Tuğba Özcan, Burcu Binbuğa, Prof. Dr. Ali Gökmen,Assoc. Prof. Emre Özçelik, Specialist Seyhan Çamlıgüney from Middle East Technical University (METU); Assoc. Prof. Şebnem Oğuz from Başkent University; Dr. Lecturer Devrim Kılıçer, Lecturer Faruk Alpkaya, Assoc. Prof. Pınar Özdemir from Ankara University; Dr. Özge Sanem Özateş, Ş.A.from Hacettepe University had their first hearings. Read the full article