Five more academics, who were on trial due to signing the petition, “We Will Not Partake In This Crime” petition of the Academics for Peace, were convicted due to “making illegal organization propaganda.
In the hearings held at Istanbul 14th, 36th and 37th Assize Courts, Assoc. Prof. İpek Yürekli from Istanbul Technical University, Asst. Prof. Dr. Özlem Beyarslan from Boğaziçi University, Faculty Member Evren Erlevent from Artuklu University and Prof. Dr. Z.S. were sentenced to 1 year and three months of imprisonment each. Istanbul 33rd Assize Court also sentenced Assoc. Prof. Candan Badem from Munzur University to 1 year, 10 months and 15 days of imprisonment. A member judge put an objection annotation to the unanimous verdict of the court and stated that the academics must be acquitted. This was the first annotation of an acquittal by a member judge in academic prosecutions. The announcements of the verdicts were deferred.
On the other hand, the prosecution of Republican People’s Party (CHP) MP Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Kaboğlu, who is also a signatory of the petition, continued at Ankara 18th Assize Court. A verdict of lack of jurisdiction was issued for the file of Kaboğlu in the lawsuit filed in Istanbul due to him being elected as an MP and his file was sent to Ankara. It was revealed that there is a warrant against the academic, despite him being an MP. Attending the hearing, Kaboğlu indicated that the lawsuit is against the Constitution and requested a verdict of lack of jurisdiction and for his prosecution to end due to his Parliamentary immunity. “I am present here in order to express my faith in the law, as a member of the Parliament,” stated Kaboğlu. The next hearing will be held on July 18th.
According to the data we compiled, 135 of the 486 signatory academics standing trial were convicted. The total sentences issued against the academics add up to 203 years of imprisonment, with the sentences against 28 academics (53 years and 8 months of imprisonment in total) not deferred.
27.02.2019
bianet.org / gazeteduvar.com.tr