May 23, 2024 - The trial of lawyer Adile Salman, charged with "membership in an organization" based on the allegations of informant Ümit Akbıyık, has begun. Salman argued that she is being prosecuted for her professional activities, stating, "I have not committed any act that could constitute a crime."
The first hearing of the case against Salman, accused of "being a member of an organization" due to her professional activities, was held at the Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court. Salman and her lawyers were present at the hearing.
The hearing was attended by Ekin Yeter, Co-Chair of the Association of Lawyers for Freedom (ÖHD); representatives from ÖHD branches in Urfa, Mardin, Batman, and Istanbul; members of the Diyarbakır Bar Association's board; the Lawyer's Rights Center; representatives from the Human Rights Association Diyarbakır Branch; and lawyers Françoise Cotta and Christine Martineou from Défense Sans Frontières (Lawyers Without Borders).
In her defense, Salman pointed out that the indictment was solely based on witness testimony. "There is no evidence other than the witness statements," she said, rejecting the accusations. When asked about certain names by the presiding judge, Salman responded that they were her colleagues, adding, "I am also a board member of ÖHD. We have no connection to any organization."
Salman's lawyer, Servet Özen, noted that they could not make a detailed defense as witness Ümit Akbıyık had not been heard, asserting, "This witness is being used by the law enforcement. The accusations are false." Addressing the presiding judge, Özen added, "You asked about ÖHD. ÖHD is an association of lawyers. In this region, in this geography, human rights violations occur, and we are defenders."
Lawyer Sezin Uçar stated that the trial essentially targets the association of lawyers, asserting, "Lawyers in Turkey have long been subjected to judicial harassment."
Diyarbakır Bar Association President Nahit Eren remarked, "If our colleague is a defendant in this case, then we are all defendants. The defense is on trial here. You are prosecuting our professional activities. There is no evidence, only a trial based on a single witness."
The prosecution requested that the witness be heard at the next hearing and that the travel ban on Salman remain in place. The court accepted these requests and adjourned the trial to October 3.
Background on the case
Lawyer Adile Salman was detained on April 25 based on the statements of informant Ümit Akbıyık and was released under judicial control.
The Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor's Office filed a lawsuit against Salman, seeking a prison sentence of 7.5 to 15 years for "membership in an organization."
The indictment cited Salman's phone conversations with colleagues, her membership in ÖHD, and the statements of individuals detained for political activities as evidence of the alleged crime.
