Şebnem Korur Fincancı, a Turkish human rights defender and forensic doctor, was acquitted of charges alleging she publicly insulted the state. The accusations stemmed from her social media comments about Orhan İnandı, a detainee who showed signs of possible torture after being abducted by Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization (MİT) from Kyrgyzstan. The Istanbul 69th Criminal Court deemed her statements non-criminal and ruled for her acquittal, amid close observation by various human rights organisations.
In the courtroom, representatives from Amnesty International, the Media and Law Studies Association, and the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey witnessed the proceedings. Following the acquittal, Ece Milli from Amnesty International Turkey expressed that it highlighted the groundlessness of the allegations, viewing it as an attempt to suppress voices advocating for human rights in Turkey. Other organisations also celebrated the ruling on social media as a victory for justice.
Orhan İnandı, the founder of a school network in Kyrgyzstan, disappeared in May 2021, only to be found later at Ankara Police Department. His abduction by MİT was alleged to be connected with his ties to the Gülen movement. Photographs displayed by the authorities showed İnandı in handcuffs, raising intense concerns regarding his treatment, particularly due to his visible decline in health and physical condition.
The Gülen movement, led by Fethullah Gülen, is branded as a terrorist group by the Turkish government, which attributes a failed coup attempt in July 2016 to its members. President Erdoğan publicly acknowledged İnandı’s abduction, praising MİT’s role in the operation, which adds to the controversy surrounding the case. The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office claimed that Fincancı’s statements were designed to create a perception of torture, impacting the state’s reputation, thus leading to the charges against her.
Turkish human rights defender Şebnem Korur Fincancı was acquitted of charges for allegedly insulting the state by discussing Orhan İnandı’s suspected torture after his abduction by MİT. The Istanbul court ruled her comments were non-criminal. Human rights organisations welcomed the verdict as a significant victory against attempts to suppress activism in Turkey, amid ongoing tensions surrounding the Gülen movement.
The acquittal of Şebnem Korur Fincancı underscores the ongoing struggle for human rights in Turkey, highlighting the thwarted attempts to silence activists. The case against her reflected the wider issues of state repression and accusations against individuals associated with the Gülen movement. As international observers continue to monitor such cases, this ruling serves as a reminder of the resilience of human rights defenders in the face of adversity.
Original Source: stockholmcf.org
