The United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has decided that military students arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment after July 15 should be immediately released, their damages compensated, and action taken against those responsible.
The United Nations Human Rights Council Working Group on Arbitrary Detention announced its decision regarding military students who were arrested after July 15 and sentenced to life imprisonment.
The Working Group, which decided for the immediate release of military students, determined that it was an unjust detention due to the long detention process, inability to benefit from effective legal assistance, non-notification of charges, and similar human rights violations.
The decision’s reasoning stated that the applicant was not brought before a judge promptly, which is inconsistent with Article 9/3 of the convention.
NO FAIR TRIAL WAS CONDUCTED
It was pointed out that a fair trial was not conducted due to the violation of the impartial judge principle and the presumption of innocence through news reports during the trial, and the same sentence was given to all defendants without individualization.
It was noted that individuals were subjected to many restrictions in terms of adequate legal assistance, and the right to choose a lawyer was not granted. It was emphasized that there was no opportunity to examine documents added during the hearing.
GOVERNMENT DID NOT RESPOND TO ALLEGATIONS
It was stated that the applicant was subjected to pressure during interrogation and forced to sign a statement protocol that he indicated was not correct. It was pointed out that the government did not respond to these allegations.
It was noted that due to mass trials, the applicant’s criminal responsibility beyond reasonable doubt was not individually examined, and the applicant and all defendants were sentenced to life imprisonment without individualization.
CONTRARY TO THE PRESUMPTION OF INNOCENCE
It was stated that from the beginning of the investigation, the labeling of the applicant and other military students as “traitors” and “terrorists” by law enforcement, prosecutors, and the press was contrary to the presumption of innocence.
In conclusion, it was stated that the mentioned fair trial rights violations were of sufficient gravity to render the applicant’s detention arbitrary.
It was pointed out that discrimination was made considering that young privates were acquitted in coup files, while military students were younger and students. It was stated that the applicant “was punished for being a student and discrimination was made”.
The decision called for the immediate release of the students, compensation for their damages, and necessary actions against the officials responsible. The report noted that concerns about the state of the judiciary in Turkey have intensified.
DECISION ANNOUNCED IN JULY
In the decision hearing held at the 24th High Criminal Court last July, 70 former Air Force Academy students were sentenced to life imprisonment for the crime of “Violating the Constitution”.
Source: boldmedya.com
