Will Sedat Peker return to Turkey? Statement from his lawyer

A statement has come from his lawyer, Ersan Barkın, regarding claims that Sedat Peker, who has been living abroad for five years, will return to Turkey.

Speaking about the possibility of Peker's return to Turkey, Barkın also made assessments regarding the legal proceedings against him.

Speaking to Can Bursalı from Halktv, Barkın said that Peker has no plans to return to Turkey.

Stating that "there is no need for political support to lift the red notice in the cases against Sedat Peker," Barkın said the following:

"The nature of the alleged acts and the cases in question already require that his statement be taken and that he be released to be tried without arrest upon his arrival in Turkey. However, I know that under current legal conditions, despite his own strong desire, there is no plan for him to return to the country."

WHICH CASES IS PEKER BEING TRIED IN?

Barkın recalled the organized crime files against Sedat Peker being heard at the İstanbul Anadolu 16th High Criminal Court and the Bursa 5th High Criminal Court. Stating that "in both files, there are a total of 24 incidents added to the file after the videos published by Sedat Peker. In none of them is it even alleged that Sedat Peker was directly involved in the acts," Barkın also said:

"My client is being held responsible for the acts pursuant to Article 220, Paragraph 5 of the Turkish Penal Code, but in none of them is it even alleged that Sedat Peker was directly involved in the acts."

Expressing that even the individuals identified as the primary perpetrators in the cases where Peker is being tried as an organization leader were released after the 3rd hearing, Barkın stated that these releases occurred during the period when the pressure on Sedat Peker was most intense, and said, "Even at that time, the detention was found to be unlawful."

"RED NOTICE IS NOT BEING LIFTED"

Lawyer Barkın pointed out that the red notice against Peker has not been lifted and their requests have been rejected in files where even those alleged to have directly committed the acts are being tried without arrest.

Barkın said the following:

"It is clear that it is not legal for a person who is not involved in the act to be subjected to a red notice containing an arrest warrant in files where those alleged to have directly committed the act are being tried without arrest. We have been requesting the lifting of the red notice with justified reasons for several sessions, but it is not being accepted."

HEARING ON MAY 16

Peker, for whom a red notice was issued in 2 cases he is being tried in following the videos he published, would face the immediate execution of the arrest warrant against him if he were to return to Turkey now.

In the 'organized crime organization' case at the İstanbul Anadolu 16th High Criminal Court where Peker is being tried, there is both an arrest warrant and a red notice against him.

In the last hearing of the case held on December 20, 2024, the request to lift the arrest warrant and the red notice for Peker was rejected by the court.

The next hearing of this case will be held on May 16.