Human rights organization Amnesty International has questioned the decision of an Istanbul Court to continue the pre-trial detention of Amnesty International’s Turkey Chair, Taner Kılıç.
Responding to Wednesday’s court’s decision, John Dalhuisen, Director, Europe and Central Asia, Amnesty International said, “Today in court lawyers for the defence and an independent expert witness demolished the prosecution’s arguments. 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.”
[ Amnesty Director and Human Rights Activists Arrested in Turkey ]
Dalhuisen added that the court’s decision to ignore the evidence and continue his detention flies in the face of reason. “It is yet another opportunity missed to correct a gross injustice. We will continue to fight for his release and for the dropping of all charges against both him and the Istanbul 10,” Dalhuisen stated.
“We’re here because they are there.” Delegation of human rights defenders outside court where trial of #Istanbul10 & Taner continues #Turkey pic.twitter.com/ooybJ2Nscz
— Stefan Simanowitz (@StefSimanowitz) November 22, 2017
According to Amnesty, the restrictions to Taner receiving visits from his lawyers have been lifted. Taner told the court that he has been held with 23 other people in an 8-person cell. The next court hearing has been set for 31 January, 2018.
Photo courtesy: Amnesty International
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