Monday February 07 2011 02:54:00 PM

12 Years ago, Pinar Selek was wrongfully accused and convicted of charges of planting a bomb in Istanbul's Spice Bazaar. Upon closer examination, the charges were shown to be patently false and based on confessions extracted through torture. Selek was subsequently acquitted twice by the court, and it became clear that she was the victim of a plot to obstruct her investigations on the long-standing conflict surrounding the Kurdish question in Turkey. 

However, in 2009 Turkey's Supreme Court annulled this judgment. Now Selek risks being re-reconvicted upon the decision of the Supreme Court, despite the corrupt evidence. She will be tried in the same court, with no new evidence, on the 9th of February. 

Greens/EFA MEP Helene FLAUTRE, who has closely followed the case, asked "What are the "Crimes" this Turkish sociologist, writer and activist is accused of? Nothing else than analyzing society, questioning its taboos and engaging herself with the most vulnerable people."

"Already cleared twice,  she now faces life imprisonment after judicial twists as unacceptable in the light of Turkey's commitments to human rights." declared Flautre in a statement.

"If Pinar Selek is found guilty and convicted on the 9th of February, the existence of an ideological front against peace and democratisation in our judiciary system will become evident" asserted Yüksel SELEK, Co-spokesperson of Green Party of Turkey.

"A guilty verdict now would be yet another example of the attempts of the Supreme Court to nullify the decisions of courts, and to put  pressure on the sentences of the judges," Selek added, "Furthermore, it would clearly show that the AKP government has not been effective against pressure from extra-legal powers in the country.”

"If on the other hand, the 12th Criminal Court on February 9 reiterates its first two decisions and decides her acquittal for the third time, the confidence in the Judiciary system will be refreshed, , and Pinar will gain her rightful freedom in her country."

Monica FRASSONI, co-spokesperson of the European Green Party commented that, "This trial marks a crucial test for Turkish justice and for the integrity of those in the judiciary system. It is an opportunity for Turkey to show the world that its judges can be ethical, truthful and independent." 

Monica Frassoni, Co-spokesperson the European Green Party

Yüksel Selek, Co-spokesperson of Green Party of Turkey

Helene Flautre, MEP, Chair of the Delegatio