The Turkish prosecution\u2019s decision to charge Taner Kili\u00e7, the Chair of Amnesty International Turkey, with \u201cmembership of a terrorist organisation\u201d is a mockery of justice, and highlights the devastating impact of the Turkish authorities\u2019 crackdown following the failed coup attempt in July last year, Amnesty International has said.<\/p>\n
Taner Kili\u00e7 became the latest victim of the government\u2019s sweeping purge after he was detained in the early hours of Tuesday on suspicion of involvement with the Fethullah G\u00fclen movement, together with 22 other lawyers based in Izmir. At his court hearing in the western Turkish city today, he was charged with membership of the \u201cFethullah G\u00fclen Terrorist Organisation\u201d and remanded in pre-trial detention. Amnesty International is demanding his immediate and unconditional release.<\/p>\n
\u201cTaner Kili\u00e7 is a principled and passionate human rights defender. The charges brought against him today are completely without merit. They show just how arbitrary, just how sweeping, the Turkish government\u2019s frenzied pursuit of its perceived enemies and critics has become. He must be released immediately and the charges against him dropped,\u201d said Salil Shetty, Amnesty International\u2019s Secretary General.<\/p>\n
\u201cTaner\u2019s arrest highlights not just a disregard for human rights, but a desire to target those who defend them. We are calling on all those in Turkey and around the world who care about human rights to speak up for a courageous campaigner who has dedicated his life and now sacrificed his liberty in their cause.\u201d<\/p>\n
Yesterday, eight lawyers in the case were remanded in pre-trial detention. One was released on bail. Seven other lawyers were taken to the courthouse at the same time as Taner Kilic, but were still awaiting a decision on their cases. A further six remain in police custody.<\/p>\n
The only claim presented by the authorities purportedly linking Taner Kili\u00e7 to the G\u00fclen movement is that Bylock, a secure mobile messaging application that the authorities say was used by members of the \u201cFethullahist Terrorist Organization\u201d was discovered to have been on his phone in August 2014.<\/p>\n
No evidence has been presented to substantiate this claim, and Taner Kili\u00e7 denies ever having downloaded or used Bylock, or even having heard of it, until its alleged use was widely publicized in connection with recent detentions and prosecutions.<\/p>\n
\u201cTaner Kili\u00e7 is neither a supporter nor a follower of the Fethullah G\u00fclen movement and has in fact been critical of its role in Turkey. The only evidence brought against him is the alleged presence on his phone of a secure communications platform that would not, even it were true, be evidence of a criminal act. He must not face trial on the basis of such flimsy and inadequate accusations,\u201d said Salil Shetty.<\/p>\n
\u201cAmnesty International will campaign tirelessly for Taner\u2019s release, and continue its work in and on Turkey undeterred.\u201d<\/p>\n
Police arrived at the Izmir home of Taner Kili\u00e7, who has served on the board of Amnesty International Turkey for various periods since 2002, on Tuesday morning, searching his home and later his office. A detention order was issued against him along with 22 other lawyers, referring to an investigation into suspected members of the \u201cFethullah G\u00fclen Terrorist Organization\u201d.<\/p>\n
Taner Kili\u00e7\u2019s arrest has drawn widespread international condemnation, including from the US State Department, the EU, Germany\u2019s Human Rights Commissioner and Denmark\u2019s Minister of Foreign Affairs, and international and domestic human rights organisations.
\n–
\nBy: amnestyusa.org<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Turkish prosecution\u2019s decision to charge Taner Kili\u00e7, the Chair of Amnesty International Turkey, with \u201cmembership of a terrorist organisation\u201d is a mockery of justice, and highlights the devastating impact of the Turkish authorities\u2019 crackdown following the failed coup attempt in July last year, Amnesty International has said. Taner Kili\u00e7 became the latest victim of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[107],"tags":[8092,8093,1308],"yoast_head":"\n