Mehmet Kamış, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the closed Zaman newspaper, released

The trial of Mehmet Kamış, the Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the closed Zaman newspaper, who was captured in a residence during a joint operation by the National Intelligence Organization (MIT) and the İzmir Police Department while an arrest warrant was outstanding for him, and who is alleged to be among the so-called high-level executives of FETÖ, continued. The defendant Mehmet Kamış, who was in custody, and his lawyers were present at the hearing held at the Istanbul 26th High Criminal Court. While the detained defendant Ali Çolak connected to the hearing via the Audio and Video Information System (SEGBİS), a lawyer representing the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) was also present in the courtroom. The court panel stated that the fugitive defendant Ali Çolak, for whom an arrest warrant had been issued, was captured between sessions and proceeded to take his defense.

'IT IS OUT OF THE QUESTION FOR ME TO BE PART OF A GROUP'

Making his defense at the hearing, defendant Çolak stated that there is a very serious terrorism case at hand but no terrorist, saying, 'The terrorist label does not fit a citizen named Ali Çolak. There is only one and a half lines about me in the indictment, and I am being mentioned with that. What is it? Participating in the first screening of the newspapers' advertisements and having accounts at Bank Asya. All of Turkey knows that I am a man of culture and art; I have no connection with terrorism or violence. I am not a terrorist, I am not a drug trafficker, I am not a rapist, I am not a fraudster. I practiced a respectable profession; I have been an essayist for 30 years. It is out of the question for me to take orders from any person, FETÖ, or any other person or group, to be in their orbit, or to walk under their flag. It is impossible for me to be a pawn or a member of any organization or group. I am a man who eats his meals alone in the cafeteria; it is out of the question for me to be part of a group. I would like to express that I am living in unbearable conditions for a man as sensitive, delicate, and romantic as I am,' he said.

Defendant Kamış, in his defense, stated that he was struggling with prison conditions and requested his release from the court. The Public Prosecutor, whose opinion was asked at the hearing, requested that defendant Çolak be released with judicial control measures and that defendant Kamış's detention continue.

RELEASE FOR BOTH DEFENDANTS

Announcing its interim decision, the court decided to release defendants Mehmet Kamış and Ali Çolak, taking into account the time they spent in detention and the current state of evidence in the file, on the condition that judicial control measures, including a travel ban and signing in every 2 weeks, be applied.

The panel ruled for the continuation of the arrest warrants for the fugitive defendants who are still at large and adjourned the hearing.

BACKGROUND OF THE CASE

In the indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, defendants Mehmet Kamış and Ali Çolak were being tried as fugitives in a case with 17 defendants, including Mehmet Altan, Ahmet Altan, and Nazlı Ilıcak, on allegations that they had prior knowledge of FETÖ's coup attempt on July 15, 2016.

In the hearing on September 19, 2017, the Istanbul 26th High Criminal Court had decided to separate the files of 10 fugitive defendants, including Kamış and Çolak.