Ankara Bar Association calls for 'immediate release' for Fatih Altaylı: Disproportionate and unlawful

Journalist Fatih Altaylı, who has been in detention since June 22 on charges of "threatening the President" due to his remarks in a YouTube broadcast, appeared before a judge for the second time today in Silivri.

The Istanbul 26th High Criminal Court sentenced Altaylı to 4 years and 2 months in prison.

Furthermore, it was decided that his detention should continue on the grounds that "judicial control provisions would be insufficient."

The following was noted in a written statement issued by the Ankara Bar Association:

"The decision regarding the continuation of detention is disproportionate and unlawful.

“It has been learned from news reports that within the scope of the prosecution conducted against journalist Fatih Altaylı, a 4-year and 2-month prison sentence was handed down, and along with the verdict, it was decided to continue the detention, which has been ongoing for 158 days, on the grounds of 'suspicion of flight.'

In order for a decision on detention, the continuation of detention, or the rejection of a request for release to be made, the existence of grounds for arrest, the proportionality of the arrest measure, and evidence that judicial control practices would be insufficient must be clearly demonstrated and justified with concrete facts. According to established judicial decisions and enforcement practices, despite the existence of other effective and proportionate security measures that could be applied regarding the 'suspicion of flight' that forms the basis of the decision to continue detention, given the length of the sentence handed down to Fatih Altaylı, the decision to continue detention is disproportionate and unlawful.

As the Ankara Bar Association, we remind everyone of the exceptional nature of the detention measure, that the principle is to be tried without detention, and that the least restrictive security measure appropriate to the purpose must be applied first; we emphasize the necessity for the detention decision regarding Fatih Altaylı to be lifted immediately."

News Source: 12punto