Rabia Çetin
The trial of former Turkish Medical Association (TTB) Chair Prof. Dr. Şebnem Korur Fincancı, who was accused of insulting then-Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan over a social media post during the 2013 Gezi Park protests, has been dismissed due to the statute of limitations.
The second hearing of the retrial took place at the Istanbul Anadolu 42nd Criminal Court of First Instance, following a Court of Cassation decision overturning a previous fine. Fincancı attended the hearing along with her lawyer Meriç Eyüboğlu, Prof. Dr. Ümit Biçer, a board member of the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TİHV), and executives from the Turkish Medical Association. Erdoğan’s lawyer did not appear in court.
In her defense statement, Fincancı said, “My remarks were in the nature of criticism. As a scientist and human rights advocate, I did not remain silent while thousands of people were injured, eight people were killed, and dozens lost their eyes.”
Defense lawyer Meriç Eyüboğlu referred to the Court of Cassation’s ruling and requested her client’s acquittal.
In its final opinion, the prosecutor asked for the case to be dismissed on the grounds of the statute of limitations. In her final statement, Fincancı argued that a verdict of acquittal should be issued.
The court ultimately ruled to drop the case due to the expiration of the legal time limit for prosecution.
