Cansu Pişkin, İstanbul - Evrensel writer and ‘peace academic’ Doç. Dr. Ceren Sözeri was sentenced to one year and three months in prison for “terrorist propaganda” due to her participation in the peace petition filed by Academics for Peace Initiative. Court deferred the announcement of her verdict.
Third hearing of Evrensel writer and academic Doç. Dr. Ceren Sözeri was held at İstanbul 37. High Criminal Court. Hearing was monitored by Evrensel newspaper Editor-in-Chief Fatih Polat along with many academics.
‘The proceeding is not impartial’
Presiding judge Akın Gürlek asked Sözeri about her defense statement regarding the prosecutor’s final opinion. Sözeri noted that the proceeding was against international law and the Anti-Terror Law, and requested her acquittal. She also accepted the Court’s offer to defer her verdict. Sözeri’s lawyer Zeynep Soydan noted that they reject the prosecutor’s opinion and that Sözeri’s proceeding was unlawful. Soydan said, “The petition does not involve any calls for force, violence or threat. The proceeding is not impartial. I request my client’s acquittal.”
After the defense statements court recessed for a short while to make a final ruling. The panel of judges sentenced Sözeri to one year and three months in prison and deferred the announcement of her verdict.
