The 20 joint attorneys representing the Labour Party (IP) in the Ergenekon case protested the court in the first hearing after the detention of IP Deputy Chair lawyer Mehmet Cengiz. The hearing was held on 7 June by the Istanbul 13^th High Criminal Court in the premises of the Silivri Penal Institution west of Istanbul.

The Ergenekon case is concerned with the clandestine ultra-national Ergenekon organisation nested within the state and the military. The terror organization allegedly plotted to overthrow the government and to create chaos in the country with murders and attacks.

Hasan Basri Özbey, lawyer of IP leader and detained defendant Doğu Perinçek, referred to last week's detention of Mehmet Cengiz and reminded the fact that Cengiz had attended the trial as a lawyer. Özbey accused the judges of "disowning the case lawyers".

As reported by the Turkish news site Ntvmsnbc.com, Özbey criticized Cengiz's detention, saying "This is a theatre. We will not become the audience of this theatre. We will not stay here any longer".

"Our efforts were being doomed by this attitude in this situation and in this environment", Özbey continued. He took off his gown and left the court room. Subsequently, about another 20 lawyers took off their gowns as well and followed Özbey out of the courtroom.

The approximately 200 people in the audience first applauded the lawyers before they raised their fists to the air and expressed their support by shouting slogans such as "Side by side against fascism", "We are right, we will win" and "Patriots will call you to account".

Defendants Doğu Perinçek, Nurset Senem and Hikmet Çiçek raised their fists as well to support the shouting group. Thereupon, President Judge Köksal Şengün decreed for a brief intermission of ten minutes.

Postponed to 10 August

The court released Non-commissioned Officer Ali Oktay Şahbaz pending trial under the condition not to leave the country. Şahbaz is tried in relation to the second indictment of the Ergenekon investigation.

The court decided to keep 36 defendants in detention. President Judge Şengün voted for the release of journalists Mustafa Balbay and Tuncay Özkan. However, the request was dismissed by majority vote. The trial will be continued on 10 August. (EÖ/VK)