Stop Persecution of Prominent Human Rights Activist!

International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission Sends Urgent Message to Turkish Government
12/03/2012

Media Contact:
Roberta Sklar, [email protected], 917-704-6358

December 3, 2012. "The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) is deeply troubled by the recent ruling of the Istanbul High Criminal Court No. 12 against prominent human rights activist and scholar, Pinar Selek, and calls upon the government of Turkey to immediately end the persecution of Ms. Selek, whose innocence has been established by various courts of law in Turkey," said Hossein Alizadeh, IGLHRC’s Middle East and North Africa Program Coordinator.

On Thursday, November 22, the Istanbul High Criminal Court No. 12 revoked its February 9th ruling that acquitted Pinar Selek, a renowned sociologist who is on trial in connection with the "Spice Bazaar" case despite the lack of authority to do so. This is the first time in Turkey’s history that a Court has defied the High Criminal Court’s previous decision. This most recent decision by the court is a violation of the Turkish Criminal Procedures Act (CMK).

The November 22 ruling of the court was issued in violation of due process, namely without an opportunity for the legal defense team to present their case, a right that is guaranteed by the Turkish constitution as well as international law. The so-called “Spice Bazaar” case has been on trial for the past 14 years in various courts in Turkey, in spite of strong protest from the international community and civil society in Turkey.

"We regret the unjustified behavior of the Turkish court and ask the authorities to immediately drop all charges against Ms. Selek," continued IGLHRC’s Hossein Alizadeh. "Ms. Selek is a respected human rights activist whose tireless defense of the rights of marginalized people, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals, is well-documented. The international community stands in solidarity with her and other human rights activists in Turkey and request the authorities in Turkey to immediately end the persecution of our colleague."

http://www.iglhrc.org/cgi-bin/iowa/article/pressroom/pressrelease/1629.html