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Turkish Anarchists Released Pending New Trial

In today's trial Turkish anarchist prisoners are released by the decision of Izmir SSC (State Security Court). The next trial is postponed to 21st of May.

On 1st of December 2001, 5 people from Usak were arrested with the claim of being members of "Usak Anarsist Otonomu" while 3 of them were distributing their own leaflets during a trade-union demo. They are being judged according to Article No. 3713/7 which defines "illegal political gangs". Although they were just claimed to be responsible for a number of graffiti and a leaflet titled "No to Capitalism and War!" signed as Usak Anarsist Otonomu, 4 of them were forced to spend 2 months in F type cells -- where they lived 2 by 2.
Today's trial started at noon and lasted more than an hour. Except prisoner's families, anarchists from Izmir and Istanbul, representatives from DISK (a leftist syndicate) were also present at the court. Among the lawyers of the anarchists there were the
Chairman of Izmir Lawyer Association and lawyer of Bergama peasants.

According to the report of SSC Attorney, Usak Anarsist Otonomu were claimed to be a part of AGF-Anarsist Genclik Federasyonu (Anarchist Youth Federation) and according to the information report of Turkish Pigs (Police) Tayfun Gˆn¸l were said to be the "leader" of anarchists in Turkey!! Tayfun Gˆn¸l attending the court as a "witness" rejected all of the claims and stated that the related group (AGF) is a group of people from Istanbul and added that even AGF itself does not define itself as an "organization" -- they say AGF is their "life". T. Gˆn¸l also told he was never arrested or questioned as a member of AGF; as he was born in 1958 it was impossible for him to be a member
of a youth group! He stated that since the beginning of the anarchist movement in Turkey Turkish anarchists had never organized an armed or violent action and this attitude is conscious.

Later with reference to the offer of lawyers and the SSC Attorney the court decided the release of 4 anarchists (Muammer ÷zg¸r K¸Á¸ktekin, Ahmet Serkan Tomar, Sabri Serkan Kazak, Onur Ayaz and Rahmi Tiril) who were in Izmir Kaynaklar F type prison for about two months. (Sabri Serkan Kazak were released on 13th
of February) The next trial will be on 21st of May. (3.4.2002)

Thanx to all comrades for their solidarity! In the name of solidarity with prisoned anarchists and anti-capitalists!

Anarchist Black Crescent -- Ankara

Anarsist Kara Ay -- Ankara

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