Terror indictment against Progressive Lawyers' Association members accepted

ISTANBUL - Doğan News Agency

An indictment charging 22 lawyers from the Progressive Lawyers' Association (ÇHD) as part of the investigation into the outlawed Revolutionary People's Liberation Party/Front (DHKP/C) has been accepted by an Istanbul court.

The indictment charges ÇHD chairman Selçuk Kozağaçlı, Istanbul branch head Taylan Tanay and other members of the association arrested during a police raid with "administrating and making the propaganda of a terrorist organization."

Prosecutors are also demanding heavy sentences for lawyers accused of maintaining close links with the DHKP/C. Tanay and Kozağaçlı face up to 53.5 years and 27.5 years in prison respectively.

Prosectors also requested aggravated life imprisonment for Ebru Timtik, charging her with an "attempt against the establishment or the constitutional order, membership of a terrorist organization, attempted murder, making the propaganda of a terrorist organization five times and resisting a commissioned officer performing his task." Her sister Barkın Timtik faces up to 51 years in prison while Oya Aslan, also an executive of the ÇHD, faces up to 45 years of prison.

Kozağaçlı's wife, Nazan Betül Vangölü, was also charged and faces up to 25 years in prison. The remaining lawyers were charged with membership in a terrorist organization, facing up to 15 years.

The lawyers were initially accused of "transferring instructions from organization leaders in prison to militants" after the raids targeting the DHKP/C.

The ÇHD is an organization that provides judicial support to victims in major contemporary human rights abuse cases.