Jailed Hatay MP's lawyers apply to top appeals court for release

After the imprisoned Gezi Park defendant Can Atalay received his election of certificate as a new parliamentarian from the Workers’ Party of Turkey (TİP), his lawyers applied to the top appeals court for his release. Atalay, lawyer by profession, was convicted to 18 years in jail in the Gezi Park trial last year.

Friday May 26 2023 04:52 pm

Duvar English

Lawyers of jailed Can Atalay, who was elected as a lawmaker from the Workers’ Party of Turkey (TİP) in the May 14 elections, have filed an application with the Court of Cassation, the highest court of appeals.

Lawyers said that as per the 83rd Article of the Constitution on “Parliamentary immunity,” Atalay needs to be released immediately, daily Sözcü reported on May 26. They said that electoral authorities on May 25 granted Atalay’s certificate of election at the Hatay Courthouse.

“After the certificate of election was prepared, we immediately made our application and demanded his (Atalay’s) release. The case file is at the Court of Cassation. After this stage, every day he stands jailed is unjust imprisonment. The conditions of his imprisonment have disappeared. We are waiting for the Court of Cassation to swiftly decide and rule for release,” lawyer Evren İşler said.

Can Atalay, a lawyer himself, was convicted in the Gezi Park trial last year and sentenced to 18 years in prison. The TİP had nominated Atalay as a parliamentarian candidate from the quake-hit Hatay province for the May 14 elections.