Prof. Dr. füsun Üstel was released after signing the petition, entitled, “We Will Not Partake In This Crime.” Üstel has been prosecuted and sentenced to 1 year and three months of imprisonment due to “making illegal organisation propaganda” through signing the petition. The academic has been imprisoned at Eskişehir Women’s Closed Prison in May for the execution of her sentence, finalised after the approval of the court of appeals.
Üstel was later prevented from being transferred to an open prison and benefiting from supervised release after the objections of the Prosecutor and supporting court decrees. However, Istanbul 33rd Assize Court issued a stay of execution against the imprisonment sentence. The court referenced a precedent by the 1st Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation on April 29, 2019 that stated, “It is not possible for those penalised due to ‘making terrorist organisation propaganda’ to be considered illegal organisation members while applying supervised release on them and transferring them to an open penitentiary institute.”
23.07.2019
bianet.org