EYLEM SONBAHAR
Folk musician and political activist Pınar Aydınlar was released from pretrial detention on Thursday during the first hearing of her trial on charges of “membership in a terrorist organization” and “terrorist propaganda.” The Istanbul 13th High Criminal Court ordered her release under judicial control, requiring her to check in with authorities once a month.
Aydınlar had been jailed since Feb. 21 following her arrest in a broader investigation into the People's Democratic Congress (HDK), a civil society platform in Turkey linked to Kurdish political activism. The HDK is often scrutinized by Turkish prosecutors for alleged ties to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), although it operates legally.
The singer was brought to court from the Bakırköy Women's Closed Prison under gendarmerie escort. The courtroom was attended by her legal team, family, and supporters.
“I was subjected to a character assassination”
In her defense statement, Aydınlar began by thanking those attending the trial. She described the police raid on her home, saying her son was forced to the ground during the operation. “I was subjected to a large-scale raid. I’ve never once refused a summons. I’ve been a folk musician for 25 years. I’m a public figure. They raided my home and detained me — this was a character assassination,” she said.
She denied any ties to illegal organizations and clarified, “I was never a candidate in Kağıthane. In the 2014 Istanbul municipal elections, I ran as a co-mayoral candidate for the HDP alongside Mr. Sırrı Süreyya Önder. I’ve been jailed for months and couldn’t even attend Sırrı’s funeral.”
Aydınlar emphasized that the HDK operates legally, stating, “I am not a member of the HDK. I’m a single mother raising two children. I’ve been unable to work for months, and my planned concerts were canceled. Never in my life did I imagine I’d be arrested and tried for alleged membership in an organization.”
The prosecutor requested her release under a travel ban. Her lawyer Murat Arksak called for her acquittal, arguing that the case file no longer contained any elements requiring further investigation. Another lawyer, Gül Altay, said, “The HDK is a legally established civil organization with no links to terrorism. Aydınlar is being portrayed as a member solely because she ran for office, but she herself stated she’s not a member.”
The court released Aydınlar with a requirement to sign in at a police station on the first of every month. The panel also referred the case to the prosecution to prepare its final opinion and adjourned the trial until Sept. 11.
