Taner Kılıç is being held with 23 other people in an eight-person cell

Kılıç and the ‘Istanbul 10’ still face up to 15 years on ‘trumped-up’ terrorism charges

Responding to today’s decision by the Istanbul Court to continue the pre-trial detention of Amnesty International’s Turkey Chair, Taner Kılıç, John Dalhuisen - Amnesty International’s Europe Director - 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.

 

“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. 

“We will continue to fight for his release and for the dropping of all charges against both him and the Istanbul 10.” 

The next court hearing in the case has been set for 31 January 2018. 

 

The restrictions to Taner receiving visits from his lawyers have been lifted. Travel bans on fellow defendants Özlem Dalkıran, Nejat Taştan and Veli Acu as conditions for their bail. Şeyhmus Özbekli’s reporting requirements have also been lifted.

 

Taner told the court that he has been held with 23 other people in an eight-person cell.

‘Trumped-up’ charges

Taner Kılıç is on trial along with ten other human rights activists, one of whom is İdil Eser, the Director of Amnesty Turkey.

Ahead of today’s hearing, more than 70 prominent international cultural and political figures signed an open letter calling on the Turkish authorities to drop “trumped-up” terrorism charges against all 11 human rights activists.