A court in Diyarbakır, southeastern Turkey, has postponed the trial of lawyer Süleyman Şahin after prosecutors added a new indictment to an ongoing case accusing him of “membership in a terrorist organization.” The court ruled to hear his defense in response to the latest charges at the next hearing.
The hearing at the 5th High Criminal Court in Diyarbakır proceeded without Şahin’s presence, although his lawyers were in attendance. The trial was observed by representatives from Avocats Sans Frontières (Lawyers Without Borders), the Diyarbakır Bar Association, the Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD), the Human Rights Association (İHD), and many local attorneys.
A secret witness identified as S42K33Ç8 testified via SEGBİS, a video-conferencing system used in Turkish courts. The witness claimed to have seen Şahin in 2019 and said that Şahin had told him he was working with ÖHD. When reminded of earlier testimony by the presiding judge, the witness stated that ÖHD provided legal defense in all cases without distinguishing between types of criminal charges, including terrorism-related cases.
“Indictment based solely on a secret witness statement”
Şahin’s lawyer, Gulan Çağın Kaleli, noted that three separate indictments have now been merged into the case. Kaleli emphasized that the secret witness had not previously accused Şahin of any wrongdoing. “An indictment cannot be built solely on a secret witness statement,” she argued, stressing that her client is being prosecuted exclusively based on uncorroborated witness claims. She also requested the lifting of judicial control measures.
Lawyers Baver Mızrak and Serdar Özer, as well as the prosecution, asked the court to address the remaining deficiencies in the case file.
The court ruled that Şahin must appear at the next hearing to deliver his defense in relation to the new indictment. It also decided to maintain the existing travel ban imposed on him. The next hearing is scheduled for June 17.
Background
The investigation into Şahin is part of a broader crackdown launched following the testimony of cooperating witness Ümit Akbıyık, which led to detention orders for 216 individuals. Among them, 21 lawyers were released under travel bans, and four were released from pre-trial detention after 20 days.
Süleyman Şahin was also released under judicial control. The indictment prepared by the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office accuses him of providing free legal assistance to individuals detained for alleged “organizational activities.” Prosecutors cite as evidence Şahin’s membership in the Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD), his university diploma, bar association registration, and client meetings.
The prosecution claims that Şahin carried out legal work under the instructions of a terrorist organization and thereby formed “an organic link” with it—an argument often used by Turkish authorities in cases targeting lawyers, journalists, and rights defenders.
