Pınar Selek
FIDH Press Release on Pınar Selek Case
PRESS RELEASE - THE OBSERVATORY
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> Turkey: Pinar Selek acquitted for the third time but proceedings are not over
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> Paris-Geneva, February 9, 2011. The Observatory for the Protection of
> Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the International Federation
> for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT),
> welcomes the acquittal of Ms. Pinar Selek, a defender of women's rights
> and the rights of minorities.
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> Concerned by the unfair prosecution of Ms. Pinar Selek, a writer and
> sociologist who is an active defender of the rights of women,
> disadvantaged communities and the victims of discrimination, including
> street children and the Kurd and Armenian minorities, who today, February
> 9, 2011, again appeared on trial before the Twelfth Chamber of the
> Istanbul High Criminal Court, the Observatory had sent an observer to
> attend the opening of the trial[1] <mhtml:mid://00000000/#_ftn1> .
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> The Court heard the preliminary observations of the defence lawyers and
> the prosecution called again for the conviction of Ms. Selek and her
> condemnation to a 36-years prison sentence without providing any
> argumentation. After recess, the Court announced that it had decided to
> acquit Ms. Selek. This decision will again have to be reviewed by the High
> General Criminal Council of the Court of Cassation.
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> The Observatory recalls that the criminal proceedings against the human
> rights defender have been ongoing since 1998. Lastly, on February 9, 2010,
> the High General Criminal Council of the Court of Cassation had called for
> a 36-years prison term against for Ms. Selek. The Observatory recalls that
> the rights of Pinar Selek have been flouted for the last twelve years and
> that she consequently has neither been able to lead a normal life nor to
> continue her human rights defence activities.
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> Our organisations welcome Ms. Pinar Selek's acquittal, and thanks all the
> persons, institutions and organisations who have intervened in her favour.
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> The Observatory calls on the authorities of Turkey to put an end to this
> 12-year long judicial harassment against Pinar Selek in reprisal of her
> legitimate human rights defence activities. The Observatory also urges the
> Turkish authorities to order a thorough, immediate, effective and
> impartial investigation into the above-mentioned facts, and to comply in
> all circumstances with the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights
> Defenders as well as international and regional human rights instruments
> ratified by Turkey.
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> For further information, please contact:
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> · FIDH: Karine Appy / Arthur Manet: + 33 1 43 55 25 18
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> · OMCT: Seynabou Benga : + 41 22 809 49 39
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Mahkeme Süreci Court Process