Weapon for terrorism: half a lemon
A man who attended a 2009 protest has been sentenced to nearly 10 years in prison on terrorism charges because of a lemon found in his pocket when he was detained.
Murat Baran, 21, was sentenced to nine years and nine months by the Adana court of Serious Crimes for “resisting an officer,” “making propaganda on behalf of a terrorist organization” and “committing a crime in the name of a terrorist organization,” based on half a lemon found in his pocket when he was detained by police.
Baran was detained after attending a Feb. 15, 2009, demonstration in Adana organized by supporters of the outlawed Kurdistan Worker’s Party, or PKK.
During clashes between protestors and police, four demonstrators hit a police officer with a car while trying to flee the scene. The police detained the four, along with those in neighboring streets who appeared to have taken part in the clashes or possessed evidence of explosive-making materials. Baran was among those detained on the neighboring street.
In their report, the police argued Baran was carrying the lemon to mitigate the effects of pepper spray, thus proving that the accused was a demonstrator and not a passerby.
The report was accepted by Adana’s Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office although it chose to extend the accusations beyond the infringements against the Gathering, Demonstration and Marches Law to include charges of “using explosive materials,” “endangering public safety” and “praising a criminal,” in addition to the other terrorism charges.
Prosecutors demanded a total of between 16 and 48 years for Baran. In the end, however, the court sentenced him to one year and eight months for “propaganda,” five years for “committing crimes for the PKK” and another year for “resisting an officer.” Increases were added to all
three according to the Anti-Terror Law, resulting in the roughly 10-year sentence.
In his defense, Baran said, “I was not involved in any crime. I am throwing myself to the mercy of your court.”
Tugay Bek, lawyer for Baran, reacted to the verdict alongside Baran’s family.
The indictment said the only evidence against Baran was the lemon to mitigate the tear gas. The lemon in question was “photographed and disposed of” by the police, according to the indictment.
The PKK is recognized as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union and the United States.
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.A man who attended a 2009 protest has been sentenced to nearly 10 years in prison on terrorism charges because of a lemon found in his pocket when he was detained.
Murat Baran, 21, was sentenced to nine years and nine months by the Adana court of Serious Crimes for “resisting an officer,” “making propaganda on behalf of a terrorist organization” and “committing a crime in the name of a terrorist organization,” based on half a lemon found in his pocket when he was detained by police.
Baran was detained after attending a Feb. 15, 2009, demonstration in Adana organized by supporters of the outlawed Kurdistan Worker’s Party, or PKK.
During clashes between protestors and police, four demonstrators hit a police officer with a car while trying to flee the scene. The police detained the four, along with those in neighboring streets who appeared to have taken part in the clashes or possessed evidence of explosive-making materials. Baran was among those detained on the neighboring street.
In their report, the police argued Baran was carrying the lemon to mitigate the effects of pepper spray, thus proving that the accused was a demonstrator and not a passerby.
The report was accepted by Adana’s Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office although it chose to extend the accusations beyond the infringements against the Gathering, Demonstration and Marches Law to include charges of “using explosive materials,” “endangering public safety” and “praising a criminal,” in addition to the other terrorism charges.
Prosecutors demanded a total of between 16 and 48 years for Baran. In the end, however, the court sentenced him to one year and eight months for “propaganda,” five years for “committing crimes for the PKK” and another year for “resisting an officer.” Increases were added to all
three according to the Anti-Terror Law, resulting in the roughly 10-year sentence.
In his defense, Baran said, “I was not involved in any crime. I am throwing myself to the mercy of your court.”
Tugay Bek, lawyer for Baran, reacted to the verdict alongside Baran’s family.
The indictment said the only evidence against Baran was the lemon to mitigate the tear gas. The lemon in question was “photographed and disposed of” by the police, according to the indictment.
The PKK is recognized as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union and the United States.
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