Verdict reached for DIAYDER members tried for organization membership: Defense attorney detained

Association president Ekrem Baran and 3 defendants were sentenced to 7 years and 6 months in prison. While 6 defendants were acquitted, other defendants were given varying prison sentences.

The verdict was announced at the Istanbul 14th High Criminal Court in the trial where the president of the Religious Scholars Aid and Solidarity Association (DIAYDER), Ekrem Baran, and 22 of its members were tried on charges of "being a member of an organization" and "making propaganda for an organization."

The court sentenced Ekrem Baran and two other defendants to 7 years and 6 months in prison. While various prison sentences were handed down to other defendants, 6 defendants were acquitted.

DEFENSE ATTORNEY DETAINED IN COURT

While 11 defendants and their lawyers attended the hearing, an operation targeting 44 people was carried out in the morning as part of an investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. While 37 people were detained in the operations, defense attorney Bedirhan Sarsılmaz was also detained in the courtroom.

ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT AND 2 OTHERS SENTENCED TO 7 YEARS AND 6 MONTHS IN PRISON

In its verdict, the court panel ruled that Ali Fuat Hatip, Aydın Ayhan, Fahrettin Ülgün, Hafit Tunç, İbrahim Şek, Nasri Tonguç, Nezir Erdemci, Nur Mehmet Işık, and Mehmet Şimşek be sentenced to 6 years and 3 months in prison for "membership in an armed terrorist organization"; that Ekrem Baran, Mehmet Emin Aslan, and Rıza Oğur be sentenced to 7 years and 6 months in prison for the same crime; and that Fevzi Barış, Lütfi Büyükefe, Sefa Mehmetoğlu, and Mehmet İnan be sentenced to 1 year and 13 months in prison for "aiding an armed terrorist organization."

News Source: 12punto