Turkey – Yeni Demokrasi: Partizan Reader Was Released

We hereby share an unofficial translation of an article published by Yeni Demokrasi on November 4.

Eray Çıta, a Partizan reader arrested during the May 1 operations, was released after being sentenced to 1 year and 13 months in prison.

The trial of Eray Çıta, a Partizan reader arrested during the home raids conducted on April 28, was held today at the Istanbul 23rd High Criminal Court. Çıta, who was on trial on charges of “membership in an organization,” requested an acquittal, emphasizing that participating in May Day and being a Partizan reader are not crimes.

“Participating in May Day is not a crime”

Noting that he grew up in a working-class family and is a worker himself, Çıta said, “Participating in May Day is as legitimate as mother’s milk.” Pointing out that the indictment also classifies hanging a Partizan banner and carrying a Partizan flag as “crimes,” Çıta emphasized that Partizan is a legal magazine and that he is a reader of this publication.

Çıta also rejected “charges” in the case file, such as participating in the September 2 Festival and attending a funeral, stating that he had taken part in the long-standing public festival and attended his friend’s funeral, and that classifying these as crimes was absurd.

A previous case in which he was acquitted was added to the current case

The judge announced that the case file of Çıta, who was detained last year during the May 1 operations, had been added to this case. Çıta’s attorney, who spoke after him, recalled that his client had been detained last year on the same date and on the same charges and had been released following a decision that “there is no need for prosecution.” Arguing that the re-inclusion of the old case file at the prosecutor’s request was unlawful, the attorney stated that his client had been detained for six months without just cause.

Drawing attention to the operations carried out prior to May 1, the attorney noted that “preventive detentions” had reached a stage where they undermined individual freedom and security.

Regarding the MASAK reports in the case file, the attorney explained that his client had engaged in financial transactions with many people as part of his work—which is not a crime—and noted that the reports included multiple unrelated organizations, calling this nonsensical. Stating that there was nothing in the reports or the case file that could actually be considered a crime, the attorney requested Çıta’s release and acquittal.

Following the defense arguments, the prosecutor requested that the detention be continued. The judge sentenced Çıta to 1 year and 13 months in prison for “aiding an organization” and ordered his release.

Çıta is expected to be released today from Marmara No. 6 L-Type Prison.