The new Turkey
More academic sentenced to prison.

21-Mar-2019

5,6 and 8 March 2019:



5 March 2019: Hikmet Adal

25-Month Prison Sentence for One Academic, Arrest Warrant for Another.

Prof. Dr. L.N. from Sabancı University has been sentenced to 25 months in prison. The announcement of the verdict has not been deferred as the sentence is longer than 24 months. In another hearing, an arrest warrant has been issued for Dr. Yalçın.

The trial of academics, who have been charged with "propagandizing for a terrorist organization" for having signed the declaration entitled "We will not be a party to this crime" prepared by the Academics for Peace, continued in the İstanbul Courthouse today (March 5). In the hearing that took place in the İstanbul 25th Heavy Penal Court, Prof. Dr. L.N. from Sabancı University has been sentenced to prison for 1 year, 13 months. The announcement of the verdict has not been deferred because the sentence is longer than 24 months.

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.

Doğan said that the declaration should be considered within the scope of the freedom of expression, a right that is guaranteed by international agreements. "It might be a critical text but propagandizing for a terrorist organization is out of question and aiding and abetting is totally impossible. When text is evaluated as a whole, there is no such meaning," the attorney asserted. Doğan also said that his client would accept a verdict the announcement of which is deferred.

Announcing its verdict, the court sentenced L.N. to 5 years in prison for "knowingly and willingly aiding a terrorist organization although not being included in the hierarchical structure of the organization." The court, reducing the sentence by two-thirds, ruled for a 1 year, 8 months prison. Then increased it to 1 year, 18 months because there is a terror offense, and reduced it to 1 year, 13 months. As the sentence is longer than 24 months, the announcement of the verdict was not deferred.

6 March 2019: Tansu Pişkin

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.

Trial of academics, who have been charged with "propagandizing for a terrorist organization" for having signed the declaration entitled "We will not be a party to this crime" prepared by the Academics for Peace, continued in İstanbul Çağlayan Courthouse yesterday (March 5).

18 academics had their hearings at three different court:

At the İstanbul 29th Heavy Penal Court: Prof. Dr. Ümit Biçer from Kocaeli University had his first hearing.

At the İstanbul 26th Heavy Penal Court: Dr. Lecturer Başak Tuğ Onaranfrom İstanbul Bilgi University had her final hearing.

At the İstanbul 23rd Heavy Penal Court: Research Assistants Kudret Çobanlı and S.H., Assoc. Prof. Evren Hoşgör and Prof. Dr. Ertuğrul Tonakfrom Boğaziçi University; Dr. Lecturer Esra Sakınç and Lecturer İrfan Eroğlu from Maltepe University; Dr. Lecturer Gamze Toksoy, Prof. Dr. Sefa Feza Arslan and Assoc. Prof. Özgür Martin from Mimar Sinan University of Fine Arts (MSGSÜ); Research Assistant Zeynep Güney from Fatih Sultan Mehmet Vakıf University; PhD student D.G. from Washington University; Assoc. Prof. Sevgi Uçan Çubukçu from İstanbul University; Dr. Lecturer Zeki Kanay from Dicle University; Lecturer Mesut Coşkun from Munzur University; Dr. Lecturer Seda Altuğ from Boğaziçi University; and PhD student B.K. from York University had their second hearings.

6 March 2019: Tansu Pişkin

Deferred Prison Sentence of 15 Months for 2 Academics.

At the İstanbul 36th and 37th Heavy Penal Courts, two academics have been sentenced to 15 months in prison for “propagandizing for a terrorist organization.” The announcement of both verdict has been suspended.

Trial of academics, who have been charged with "propagandizing for a terrorist organization" for having signed the declaration entitled "We will not be a party to this crime" prepared by the Academics for Peace, continued in İstanbul Çağlayan Courthouse today (March 6).

Five academics had their hearings at three different courts:

At the İstanbul 36th Heavy Penal Court: Lecturer Begüm Başdaş from İstanbul Bilgi University had her second hearing and Lecturer Deniz Parlakfrom Kemerburgaz University had her fifth hearing.

At the İstanbul 25th Heavy Penal Court: Assoc. Prof. B.D. from Ankara University had the first hearing.

At the İstanbul 37th Heavy Penal Court: Research Assistant Gizem Sayınfrom Kadir Has University had her third hearing and Lecturer S.U. from Kadir Has University had the fourth hearing.

15-deferred prison sentence 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.

8 March 2019 Tansu Pişkin

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.

rial of academics, who have been charged with "propagandizing for a terrorist organization" for having signed the declaration entitled "We will not be a party to this crime" prepared by the Academics for Peace, continued in İstanbul Çağlayan Courthouse today (March 8).

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.

Deferred prison sentence of 15 months for 1 academic

Having the first hearing at the 30th Heavy Penal Court, academic Y.Ö. has been sentenced to 1 year, 3 months in prison on charge of "propagandizing for a terrorist organization" as per the Article 7/2 of the Anti-Terror Law.

The pronouncement of the verdict has been suspended.*

In all 13 hearings held at the İstanbul 33rd Heavy Penal Court, the court board has given a verdict of rejection of venue and ruled that the files of academics shall be sent to the provinces where they reside.