Istanbul court releases academics charged with terror propaganda
An Istanbul court has released academics charged with terror propaganda.
It was good news for democracy yesterday as a court ordered the release of four Turkish academics on April 22 on the first hearing of a trial opened against them for making “terrorist propaganda” by reading out a joint petition in January which called on the government to end the security operations in southeastern provinces. Said petition was signed by over 1000 academics.
Among those arrested were Esra Mungan, Muzaffer Kaya and Kıvanç Ersoy who held the press conference on March 10 at the Education and Science Workers’ Union’s (EĞİTİM-Sen) 6th Office in Istanbul. The title of the declaration they read out was “We won’t be part of this crime.”
Meral Camcı another academic also arrested on April 1 expressed in her testimony that “criticizing the government’s policies was an exercise in freedom of expression and fulfillment of her duty as a citizen and an academic.”
During the trial, the public prosecutor called for an abatement of the proceedings, saying the subject of the trial may be covered under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Court (TCK) penalizing “insulting Turkey, the Turkish nation or Turkish government institutions,” which would require permission from the Justice Ministry. The prosecutor asked the court to release the suspects to prevent “rights violations,” explaining that the ministry’s response may be delayed. The request was granted by the court.
Many people gathered at the court to support the scholars, some holding up placards that read “Freedom for the academics” and “Freedom for the pencils.” On the other hand, members from the opposition group of parliament participated in the rally as well. It was observed that as two armored police trucks equipped with water cannons stood by to intervene in case of need.
BTT
