Pınar Selek Acquits for the Forth Time

Sociologist Pınar Selek acquitted from all charges again after having acquitted three times and ordered to stand trial for the forth time regarding the 1998 Grand Bazaar Blast Incident.

The verdict has been received by joy and tears in the courtroom. 

The court panel also underlined that the contradictions regarding Court of Cessation’s resisting of previous verdicts and expert report have yet to be removed - which left the reason of explosion yet utterly explained. 

“Evidence proving must be made in a clear way that there is no doubt left,” the court said. 

Pınar Selek’s sister and advocate Seyda Selek told bianet the following:

“This is the forth acquittal that we have heard. This is what it was supposed to be and they issued a ruling accordingly. However, you don’t make justice this way, we have observed a 16 year process with no sense of justice. We can say that, it at least helped to alleviate the victimization. It might be sad to be happy about this, but we can at least say it is a relief.” 

What happened?

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

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

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

On December 5, reiterating his former opinion again, prosecutor recharged Pınar Selek with aggravated life sentence. (ÇT/BM)

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.