The 2nd Criminal Chamber of the Istanbul Regional Court of Justice completed its appeal review against the decision of Turkish Medical Association (TTB) Şebnem Korur Fincancı to be sentenced to 2 years, 8 months and 15 days in prison by the Istanbul 24th High Criminal Court for "making propaganda for a terrorist organization".

 

The chamber decided that there was no illegality regarding the procedure and principles in the local court's decision, and there was no deficiency in the evidence and procedures, and pointed out that the evaluation was appropriate in terms of proof. Stating that the action was described as correct and that the prison sentence of 2 years, 8 months and 15 days was applied within the legal context, the chamber rejected the appeal on the merits, not seeing the reasons put forward by the defendant's lawyers and the public prosecutor.

 

WHAT HAPPENED?

 

TTB President Şebnem Korur Fincancı, who was investigated and arrested from her home due to her statements regarding the chemical weapons used by the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) in the attacks on the Zap, Avaşîn and Metina areas of the Federated Kurdistan Region, was taken to Ankara on October 27, 2022. She was also arrested by the Criminal Judgeship of Peace. In the indictment prepared as a result of the investigation carried out by the Ankara Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, a prison sentence of 1 year and 6 months to 7 years and 6 months was requested for the crime of "terrorism propaganda".

 

Ankara 4th High Criminal Court ruled that Fincancı did not have jurisdiction because her place of residence was Istanbul and the investigation was conducted there, and sent the file to Istanbul. Istanbul 24th High Criminal Court, which oversaw the trial, sentenced Fincancı to 2 years, 8 months and 15 days in prison for "making propaganda for a terrorist organization" and released her, taking into account the time she spent in detention.