Sought to benefit from effective remorse: Verdict for defendant who received 'burn forests' order from PKK in Adana

The hearing held at the Adana 2nd High Criminal Court was attended by the lawyer of the fugitive defendant I.K.

In his opinion on the merits, the public prosecutor stated that the defendant operated within the "Children of Fire Initiative" group, which is part of the PKK terrorist organization, engaged in organizational propaganda, and shared content inciting the commission of crimes.

SOUGHT TO BENEFIT FROM EFFECTIVE REMORSE!

Recalling that I.K., who declared that he accepted the charges against him and wanted to benefit from effective remorse provisions, had been released during the trial with a travel ban and judicial control measures considering the time he spent in detention, the prosecutor stated that a report from the Counter-Terrorism Branch Office indicated that the defendant had fled to Greece via illegal routes and continued to operate there on behalf of the PKK terrorist organization.

Stating that the defendant did not show effective remorse and had not severed his ties with the organization, the prosecutor presented an opinion that I.K. should be punished for "membership in an armed terrorist organization," "publicly inciting to commit a crime," and "making propaganda for a terrorist organization" and that an arrest warrant should be issued for him.

The defendant's lawyer, on the other hand, claimed that they did not accept the accusations and that his client was not a member of the PKK terrorist organization, requesting his acquittal.

The court panel sentenced the defendant to a total of 16 years and 6 months in prison—9 years for "membership in an armed terrorist organization," 6 years for "making propaganda for a terrorist organization," and 1 year and 6 months for "publicly inciting to commit a crime"—and decided to issue an arrest warrant for him.

BACKGROUND OF THE CASE

I.K., who confessed that he received orders from the PKK terrorist organization to start forest fires in Turkey in exchange for money, was arrested on November 8, 2021.

The indictment prepared against the defendant, seeking up to 25 years in prison for "membership in an armed terrorist organization," "publicly inciting to commit a crime," and "making propaganda for a terrorist organization," had been accepted by the Adana 2nd High Criminal Court.

In his statement in the indictment, I.K. explained that he had received orders from the organization to start forest fires in Turkey in exchange for money and that he was given detailed information on how to start the fires.

The defendant was released on December 23, 2022, with a travel ban as a judicial control measure after making statements within the scope of effective remorse provisions during the trial phase.

News Source: AA