Large international delegation to observe hearing of the new case against Pınar Selek

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The Coordination for the Initiatives for Solidarity with Pınar Selek announced that a large international delegation will come for the hearing on March 31, 2023, of the new case filed against Pınar Selek, a feminist, sociologist, writer, and activist from Türkiye in exile in France.

Having been tried and acquitted three times in the Egyptian Bazaar Explosion in 1998, Pınar Selek was sentenced to life on January 24, 2013.

Upon her appeal, Supreme Court 9th Penal Chamber overturned the verdict.

On October 3, 2014, the case opened again with the judge ordering the removal of the life sentence and arrest warrant for Selek.

Reiterating the former opinion, the prosecutor demanded an aggravated life sentence for Selek.

Pınar Selek was acquitted for the fourth time in this case on December 19, 2014. However, the prosecutor appealed the decision again.

The delegation to come to İstanbul to show solidarity with Selek in the hearing will be made up of politicians, academicians, representatives of non-governmental organizations, and activists. Around a hundred people from France, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, Italy, and Norway are expected to arrive at the courtroom.

"Her struggle for justice is our common demand"

The coordination reminded in the written statement that the Pınar Selek case ruling was overturned by the Court of Cassation for the fourth time.

After two and a half years of imprisonment, four acquittals, and 25 years of trial, an international warrant was issued for Pınar Selek on January 6, 2023, and a new hearing to be held in İstanbul Heavy Penal Court on March 31 was notified, reminded the coordination.

And they stated on March 31, a very large international delegation will come to İstanbul for the new hearing of the case against Pınar Selek.

"Because she rejected to give the names of people she talked to"

"A hundred people appointed by more than twenty local administrations, associations, political parties, trade unions, and human rights organizations will be present to observe the new hearing of the case against Pınar Selek which all started because she rejected to give the names of the persons she talked to for sociological research in 1998.

"This delegation will convey the international demand for truth and justice for Pınar Selek. MPs, elected representatives, lawyers, representatives of human rights organizations, academicians, journalists and correspondents, feminists, environmentalists, LGBTI+ and peace activists, and technical experts want to hear firsthand what the court is going to say when it has been proven systematically that the Egyptian bazaar explosion occurred as a result of an accident and Pınar Selek was acquitted in all previous trials.

"All members of the delegation believe that the fight of Pınar Selek for justice is not her demand alone, but the demand of all who struggle for freedom and truth," said the coordination in their statement. (EMK/PE)