Academics from Ankara University Acquitted After 4 Years

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

Detained during police intervention in demonstration of solidarity with Kobanê organized at Ankara University Cebeci Campus on October 9, 2014, five research assistants have been acquitted after four years.

Taken into custody along with as many as 20 students, the academics stood before judge in 35th Criminal Court of First Instance yesterday (September 10) on charge of “Opposing Law on Demonstration and Rallies”.

According to information lawyer Oya Aydın gave to bianet, the court ruled that the criminal provisions weren’t constituted and acquitted the academics.

The acquitted academics Onur Can Taştan (Faculty of Political Sciences), Nail Dertli (Faculty of Political Sciences), Celil Kaya (Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences), Aysun Gezen (Institute of Social Sciences) and İlkay Kara (Faculty of Communication) are also signatories of declaration entitled “We will not be a party to this crime” issued by Academics for Peace.

The academics were discharged by statutory decree dated September 1, 2016. (BK/TK)