DENİZ TEKİN
The Diyarbakır 5th High Criminal Court has postponed the trial of lawyer Süleyman Şahin, accused of "membership in a terrorist organization," to allow the prosecutor time to prepare the final opinion. The charges are based on allegations from cooperating witness Ümit Akbıyık and Şahin’s professional legal activities.
Witness testimony clarifies legal representation
During the fourth hearing, attended by Şahin, his lawyers, and observers from the Diyarbakır Bar Association and the Lawyers for Freedom Association (ÖHD), witness Edip Hüseyinoğlu testified that the allegations stemmed from a routine legal representation. Hüseyinoğlu explained that he had a legal proxy relationship with the family of Arjin Onur but was unable to attend Onur's police interrogation due to being out of town. He stated that Süleyman Şahin entered the police interview on his behalf after he contacted him as a colleague.
Defense requests and court rulings
Şahin reiterated his request for the prosecutor’s opinion to be presented promptly and asked the court to schedule the next hearing soon. His defense lawyers requested that he be excused from future hearings due to living outside the city and asked for the removal of his international travel ban, imposed as part of judicial control measures.
The court ruled to:
- Excuse Süleyman Şahin from attending future hearings.
- Maintain the international travel ban.
- Send the case file to the prosecutor to prepare the final opinion.
The hearing was adjourned to April 15, 2025.
Context
The case against Süleyman Şahin is part of broader concerns about the increasing criminalization of legal professionals in Turkey. Accusations stemming from routine legal duties, particularly based on witness testimonies, have drawn criticism from domestic and international legal organizations advocating for judicial independence and the protection of defense attorneys' rights.
