The court case known as the "Human Rights Defenders' Trial" in public, where 11 rights defenders were being accused of plotting to overthrow the elected government reached a verdict today with 6 years 3 months prison sentence for Taner Kılıç, 1 year 13 months prison sentences for Günal Kuşun, İdil Eser and Özlem Dalkıran. Amnesty International made a statement about the trial.

Taner Kılıç was sentenced to 6 years 3 months for membership of terrorist organization. Günal Kuşun, İdil Eser and Özlem Dalkıran were all convicted for 25 months for assisting a terrorist organisation. There have been declared no arrest warrants for any of the four convicted in the trial. The four of them will not be imprisoned pending their appeals. The appeals process could take years.

AMNESTY'S STATEMENT

Amnesty International's Turkey Researcher Andrew Gardner said "Today, we have borne witness to a travesty of justice of spectacular proportions. This verdict is a crushing blow not only for Taner, Özlem, İdil and Günal and their families but for everyone who believes in justice, and human rights activism in Turkey and beyond. The decision of the court is staggering. During 12 court hearings, each and every allegation has been comprehensively exposed as a baseless slur. The court’s verdict defies logic and exposes this three-year trial as the politically motivated attempt to silence independent voices it was from day one. This case has been a litmus test for the Turkish justice system. As such, it is tragic to see the part it has played and continues to play in criminalizing the act of standing up for human rights. We will continue to stand with our friends and colleagues as they appeal these shameful verdicts.” For an analysis of the case against Taner Kılıç visit this link.