Turkish judge extends pre-trial detention of Amnesty chair
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – An Istanbul Court on Wednesday ruled to continue the pre-trial detention of Amnesty International’s chair in the country, Taner Kilic – a move condemned by the rights organization.
“All the evidence shows Taner is innocent but this evening he was nevertheless sent back to the overcrowded cell where he has spent more than five months,” John Dalhuisen, Amnesty’s director for Europe and Central Asia, said in a published statement.
Kilic was among a group of activists detained on July 5 after a police raid on a human rights workshop on Buyukada, an island near Istanbul.
Eight were released in October and two others were let go on bail.
Kilic, a humanitarian lawyer specializing in refugees, was alleged to have membership in the Gulen organization, accused by Ankara of plotting last year’s failed coup. The charges he faces carry a term of up to 15 years in prison.
Stating that they presented expert witness evidence, Dalhuisen said, “The court’s decision to ignore this evidence and continue his detention flies in the face of reason. It is yet another opportunity missed to correct a gross injustice.”
He said they would continue their efforts to have all charges dropped and Kilic released.
He is next due to appear in court on January 31, according to Amnesty.
Turkey has been widely criticized for its post-coup crackdown that has included the arrests of thousands.
“All the evidence shows Taner is innocent but this evening he was nevertheless sent back to the overcrowded cell where he has spent more than five months,” John Dalhuisen, Amnesty’s director for Europe and Central Asia, said in a published statement.
Kilic was among a group of activists detained on July 5 after a police raid on a human rights workshop on Buyukada, an island near Istanbul.
Eight were released in October and two others were let go on bail.
Kilic, a humanitarian lawyer specializing in refugees, was alleged to have membership in the Gulen organization, accused by Ankara of plotting last year’s failed coup. The charges he faces carry a term of up to 15 years in prison.
Stating that they presented expert witness evidence, Dalhuisen said, “The court’s decision to ignore this evidence and continue his detention flies in the face of reason. It is yet another opportunity missed to correct a gross injustice.”
He said they would continue their efforts to have all charges dropped and Kilic released.
He is next due to appear in court on January 31, according to Amnesty.
Turkey has been widely criticized for its post-coup crackdown that has included the arrests of thousands.