21 October 2010
The trial against KCK in which 152 Kurdish politicians, mayor and human rights defenders are being tried was adjourned until Friday.
The trial against KCK in which 152 Kurdish politicians, mayor and human rights defenders are being tried was adjourned until Friday. Diyarbakir heavy criminal court Nr. 6 has also rejected release request of the defendants.
The Kurdish politicians and the human rights defenders are charged with “attempt to break the invisible unity of the state”, “being member and directors of an outlawed organization” and “aiding and abetting an outlawed organization.” If they are found guilty they will be sentenced to between 15 year and lifelong aggravated imprisonment.
While only 225 pages of the 900-paged indictment could be read by yesterday the judge rejected release request of the defendants. In the face of this rejection a defendant lawyer Metin Isis has stated that all the charges against the politicians and human rights defenders are based on intelligence reports which cannot be used as evidence in a criminal trial. Isis also pointed out the constitutional article which states “the intelligence reports which have been prepared on account of preventing commitment of a crime cannot be used in a criminal trial” and said it will be illegal if they are used in the trial. He also added that during the house raid not only the right to private and family life but also by seizing documents the freedom of expression has also been violated. Isiz further added that the international treaties ratified by Turkey prescribe imprisonment as an exceptional remedy however, the prosecutor and the law enforcement officers resort custody as the first remedy.
Isiz, meanwhile said that leaving the defendants under arrest violates not only the obligations of Turkey under international law but also Article 206 of the Turkish Criminal Procedure Law and demanded to bail out or issue a abroad ban. However, the judge rejected the request without a legal justification. The hearing is adjourned until 22 October.
ANF NEWS DESK /
ANF NEWS AGENCY
