SELCUK KOZAĞAÇLI IS FREE

Selçuk Kozağaçlı, the Honorary President of ÇHD, has been in Silivri F-Type Prison since November 2017, when his continuous detention began. In November 2022, Selçuk Kozağaçlı was sentenced to 12 years in prison for membership of an illegal organization under the Anti-Terror Law. In 2024, the sentence was reduced to 11 years and 3 months imprisonment and upheld by the 3rd Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation, the verdict was communicated in April. Kozağaçaçlı was also detained between January 2013 and March 2014. Since the file on the basis of his detention during this period was merged with the file on the upheld prison sentence, Kozağaçlı's time in prison has reached nearly 9 years in total.

According to the Turkish Law, if three-quarters of the sentences imposed under the Anti-Terror Law are served in a closed penal institution, the sentence in question is considered met the conditions of release. However, a new regulation introduced in 2020 stipulates "good behavior" in addition to this time requirement. "Good behavior" is determined by an evaluation by the Administration and Observation Board of the Prison Directorate. Forty points out of one hundred are required for release.

As of February 11, 2025, Selçuk Kozağaçlı has completed three-quarters of the sentence specified in the Turkish Execution Law. In other words, there is no obstacle to Kozağaçlı's release. Despite this, the Administration and Observation Board of the Prison Administration gave Kozağaçlı a score of 37.75 "for good behavior" without providing any legal/rational justification and therefore prevented his release.

Administrative and Observation Boards prevent the release of many prisoners in Turkey who, like Kozağaçlı, have been arrested on political grounds. These decisions can be appealed before the Penal- Enforcement Judgeship. This appeal was made by Kozağaçlı, and the Enforcement Court ruled that the Board's decision not to release him was erroneous, albeit on different grounds than the grounds he had appealed. However, the Prosecutor's Office appealed against this decision to the High Criminal Court and once again the release was delayed. As of 16.04.2024, despite all the delays and obstacles, he was finally released due to the great solidarity shown with him.

As Cyprus Democratic Lawyers Association we stand in solidarity