Gezi prisoners in their third year… Meriç Demir Kahraman: ‘He has been away from us for 3 years, justice must not be delayed any further’

Hazal Güven - 12punto.com.tr

The 6.2 magnitude earthquake in Istanbul once again brought the same question to mind: “Are we ready for an earthquake?” However, the people who could provide a reassuring answer to this question and make Istanbul earthquake-ready are in prison. One of those individuals, urban planner Tayfun Kahraman, along with Çiğdem Mater, Can Atalay, and Mine Özerden, with whom he was arrested in the same case, has left behind his third year in prison today. 

Kahraman, who is being tried while in custody on charges of “assisting in the attempt to overthrow the government,” has had two separate investigations opened against him in the past that resulted in non-prosecution decisions. Although he was tried and acquitted under a new indictment, the appellate court overturned this decision. The evidence presented by the defense was not evaluated by the court. Despite witness statements presented as grounds for the decision, the questioning of witnesses was not permitted, and Kahraman was not granted the right to ask questions. 

In addition to this trial process full of illegality, images of the torture allegedly applied to Kahraman, who suffers from MS, have occasionally come to the agenda. Kahraman, who should be doing his job against the earthquake that reminded us of its existence again recently, has thus spent 3 years in prison. 

Kahraman’s wife, Meriç Demir Kahraman, appealed to the authorities in a statement to 12punto. Kahraman said, “We have been waiting for a decision from the Constitutional Court for 19 months. Justice must not be delayed any further.” 

Meriç Demir Kahraman stated the following: 

'HE HAS BEEN AWAY FROM US FOR EXACTLY 3 YEARS'

“My husband, Tayfun Kahraman, is an urban planner who has dedicated his life to preparing Istanbul for earthquakes.

He is a public servant who has demonstrated his expertise in earthquake-resilient urban planning, first in Beylikdüzü and then at the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB).

He is an academic who trains young urban planning students who will fight against earthquakes.

The subject of his trial consists solely of his efforts to legally and officially protect Gezi Park, which is an earthquake assembly area, in his capacity as the head of the professional chamber.

Because he did what his profession and patriotism required;

he has been held in Silivri Prison, away from us, for exactly 3 years as a result of an unfair trial where evidence in his favor was not evaluated, his witnesses were not heard, and not a single concrete, clear, and genuine piece of evidence of a crime was presented against him!

We have been waiting for a decision from the Constitutional Court for 19 months. Justice must not be delayed any further.” 

News Source: Hazal Güven