Andrew Gardner

I’m officially leaving Amnesty for a year-long break from tomorrow, will be cheering on the great work of @MilenaBuyum and @grsarisen on Amnesty Turkey campaigns and research and of course the amazing @aforgutu team in Turkey.

Human rights defenders convicted in disgraceful Büyükada verdict. Taner sentenced to 6 years 3 months for membership of terrorist organization. İdil, Özlem and Günal all given 1 year 13 months for assisting a terrorist org all pending appeal. We will not let this outrage stand.

This is an outrage. Absurd alllegations. No evidence. After three year trial Taner Kılıç convicted for membership of a terrorist organization. Özlem and Günal convicted for asisting. The torment continues. We won’t give up until all are acquitted.

So here it is. After 3 years and 12 hearings. Absurd allegations. Pro-government media smear campaign. Taner detained for 14 months 8 other rights defenders detained for 4. The court will make up its mind. Verdict due 3pm.

Nejat makes a short defence statement and the court takes an adjournment. One hour break and then the court will issue it’s verdict.

The Büyükada trial resumes after adjournment. Defence lawyers continue with their criticism of the prosecutor’s summing up which fails to take account of the evidence presented at the trial.

Thanks to diplomatic representatives of Canada, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland for battling the odds and getting in to observe the Büyükada hearing despite Covid19 and Covid19 restrictions.

The judges obviously want to finish the hearing quickly. Let’s hope for a quick but most of all fair conclusion to this trial and all 11 rights defenders acquitted. This ordeal has to end now.

Özlem’s lawyer finishes her final defence statement and the court calls an adjournment for an hour. Hearing to continue at 1.30pm

After three years this case is just as surreal as day one. Absurd allegations not supported by evidence first in the pro-government press, then in the indictment, then the prosectuor’s concluding statement. Defence lawyers have been saying this for 12 hearings.

“There has been no evidence that the Büyükada meeting was anything but peaceful. There is nothing in the content of the meeting that is not peaceful. This sort of meeting is protected by the Constitution. It can’t be used as evidence.”

...coming to the prosecutor’s summing up...he hasn’t made an assessment of the evidence, or followed what has happened in the trail but instead requested convictions. And we have to make a defence against that.

Özlem’s Lawyer continues, this is a prosecution without evidence, an attempt to silence human rights defenders. They couldn’t find evidence of terrorism so they brought the charge of assisting terrorism

“Which of our activities supported terrorist organizations or there aims? That’s not clear (in the prosecutor’s statement) ...unfortunately, every report that rights defenders write, every meeting that they attend is seen as unacceptable criticism.”

Özlem’s Lawyer reads from her final defence putting their trial for defending human rights in the context of trials of journalists academics under anti terror laws to silence dissent. “Human rights defenders play an important role in democratic society”

Ali’s lawyer continues the defence. How can people support different terrorist organizations? (What they are accused of) There is no crime here, all the defendants should be acquitted.

Ali’s lawyer reads his final defence statement: “ the prosecutor wants four of us to be convicted. None of us should have even been detained.” “ Injustice anywhere is is injustice everywhere” “we are not terrorists, we are simply defending human rights”

Peter and Ali’s lawyers start by reading Peter’s final defence statement - with a call for all 11 rights defenders to be acquitted. “If anyone is convicted it will be a severe violation of all of our rights”

Final hearing of the Büyükada trial starting now. Very few observers, diplomats, members of the press present due to COVID19 restrictions.

Büyükada due to start now, but very few observers allowed in. Reason COVID19. Only one lawyer per defendant. diplomatic representatives from Germany, Sweden Switzerland observing.