Court orders review of dismissed investigations in trial of lawyer Adile Salman on terrorism charges

DENİZ TEKİN

The Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court has ordered the submission of files from closed investigations into lawyer Adile Salman, who is on trial for alleged membership in a terrorist organization. The decision came during the third hearing of the case, which is based on the testimony of cooperating witness Ümit Akbıyık.

The trial was attended by Salman, her defense team, representatives from the Lawyers for Freedom Association (ÖHD), the Human Rights Association (İHD), the Diyarbakır Bar Association, and observers from the Paris Bar Association.

Defense calls for immediate acquittal

Salman declined to make a statement during the hearing. Her lawyer, Mehdi Özdemir, argued that the case reflects systemic pressure on the legal profession in Turkey. "This trial is a symptom of the ongoing assault on the independence and freedom of lawyers. Continuing this trial serves no purpose; an immediate acquittal is warranted," he said.

Servet Özen, another defense attorney, criticized a police report submitted to the court, noting that it omitted critical information about previous decisions not to prosecute Salman. "This omission constitutes a manipulation of justice. Hiding such information turns this system from a rule of law into a police state," Özen asserted.

Sezin Uçar, another lawyer on Salman’s defense team, called for resolving gaps in the case file before proceeding.

Prosecutor’s position and court decisions

The prosecutor recommended addressing the incomplete case file and maintaining Salman’s travel ban under judicial control measures.

The court ruled to:

• Obtain files from past investigations where Salman was cleared.
• Inquire with the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office about the status of ongoing investigations.
• Continue the travel ban imposed on Salman.

The trial was adjourned to March 11, 2025.

Context

Adile Salman is accused of organizational ties based on her professional activities as a lawyer, a charge her defense team argues undermines the legal profession’s independence. The case has drawn significant attention from legal and human rights groups, both domestically and internationally, as an example of the growing challenges facing lawyers in Turkey.