Shocking verdict in the second February 28 case: 18-year prison sentences for 12 defendants, including former YÖK President Kemal Gürüz

In the February 28 case, following the Court of Cassation's reversal decision, a verdict has been reached in the retrial of 16 defendants, including retired generals Orhan Yöney and Şükrü Sarıışık, and the then-President of the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) Prof. Dr. Halil Kemal Gürüz.

Following the Court of Cassation's reversal decision, the retrial of the 16 defendants began at the Ankara 5th High Criminal Court on November 22, 2021.

To date, 12 hearings have been held in the case. In the final hearing on May 5, the prosecutor, presenting their opinion on the merits, requested that the Court of Cassation's ruling be complied with, meaning the defendants should be sentenced for "aiding in a coup."

Some of the non-custodial defendants and their lawyers attended the hearing at the Ankara 5th High Criminal Court.

Following the Court of Cassation's reversal decision, in the retrial of the February 28 case at the Ankara 5th High Criminal Court, 13 defendants, including retired generals Orhan Yöney and Şükrü Sarıışık, as well as the then-President of YÖK Prof. Dr. Halil Kemal Gürüz, were sentenced to 18 years in prison each for the crime of "aiding in an attempted coup."

In the May 5 hearing of the case, the prosecutor had stated in their opinion on the merits that defendants Şevket Turan and İzzettin İyigün had passed away and should be dropped from the case, and requested that the other 14 defendants be sentenced for "aiding in an attempted coup."

3 DECEASED INDIVIDUALS DROPPED FROM THE CASE

After the defendants and their lawyers completed their defenses against the opinion on the merits, the court announced its verdict.

It was decided that the cases against defendants Şevket Turan, İzzettin İyigün, and Kamuran Orhon, who passed away during the trial process, would be dropped.

"SHOCKING VERDICT"

Journalist and 12punto columnist Müyesser Yıldız stated on her social media account regarding the case: "Shocking verdict in the second February 28 case... In the retrial following the Court of Cassation's reversal decision, 12 defendants, including former YÖK President Kemal Gürüz, were sentenced to 18 years in prison..."

Shocking verdict in the second February 28 case...

In the retrial following the Court of Cassation's reversal decision, 12 defendants, including former YÖK President Kemal Gürüz, were sentenced to 18 years in prison...

— Müyesser Yıldız (@MuyesserYildiz) October 6, 2025

News Source: 12punto