On 22 May 2018, the first hearing of three academics was held in Istanbul 29th High Criminal Court and the first hearing of two others was held in Istanbul 27th High Criminal Court. All five are among the academics facing trial on charges of disseminating ‘terrorist propaganda’ for having signed a peace petition drafted by Academics for Peace.
These hearings are just three of many ongoing hearings against Academics for Peace. To date, first hearings of 230 petition signatories have been concluded and 13 of have been sentenced to one year and three months in prison. All terms were suspended with the exception of that of Zübeyde Füsun Üstel. The next hearings are scheduled for the upcoming months and the first hearings of many others will be held in the near future.
Front Line Defenders condemns the continuing judicial harassment against the members of Academics for Peace in Turkey, which it believes is related to their peaceful work in defence of the rights of others.
Source: https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/case/judicial-harassment-academics...