Turkey’s Constitutional Court rules long imprisonment of MP as “violation of rights”
The Constitutional Court ruled Dec. 4 that the long imprisonment of main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) deputy Mustafa Balbay amounts to a “violation of rights.”
Balbay, who was sentenced to 34 years and eight months in prison on charges related to the Ergenekon coup plot trial, had earlier objected the court’s ruling due to his long imprisonment and the violation of his right to a fair trial.
However, the meeting of the Court has still not been completed yet. In the event that it rules for an interlocutory injunction, Balbay may be released. On the other hand, if the Court rules for compensation to be given for this violation of rights, he won’t be released.
The Court is also set to discuss the situation of CHP Zonguldak deputy Mehmet Haberal, who is also imprisoned, following Haberal’s personal objection.
Balbay was elected a CHP deputy in the 2011 elections. The Ergenekon coup plot trial, considered the most important legal battle in recent Turkish history, reached a verdict on Aug. 5, with Istanbul’s 13th High Criminal Court handing down severe punishments, including a life sentence for former Chief of General Staff Gen. İlker Başbuğ.
04.12.2013
SOURCE: MEDIA
