Unanimous Acquittal Ruled for Gülen
The Ankara 11th High Criminal Court took the amendments to the Turkish Penal Code into consideration and annulled the adjournment ruling handed down by the Ankara State Security Court (DGM) 2 in 2003.
The accusations against Gülen "were not proved and no elements of crime came into being," it was emphasized in the verdict.
Gülen's lawyers Abdulkadir Aksoy and Orhan Erdemli attended the trial Friday.
After stating, as the delegation, they had examined the file, Court Chairman Mehmet Orhan Karadeniz asked the prosecutor his views concerning the examination.
Prosecutor Salim Demirci requested the judge overturn the demand of Gülen's lawyers for an acquittal. After a recess, Chairman Karadeniz handed down his verdict in the afternoon session.
Karadeniz stated Gülen was acquitted of the public prosecution for which he was tried in 2000 and that the final adjudication adjournment referred to the Turkish Penal Code, article 7. The file was examined again in relation to the referral.
The accusations against Gülen "were not proved," the Court reached the conclusion, and Karadeniz made clear, "no elements of crime committed came into being." A unanimous ruling for an acquittal followed. The office of the Prosecutor has the right to appeal to the Supreme Court within seven days.
Opened after the application of Gülen's defense counsel demanding the annulment of the prior ruling reached by the Ankara State Security Court (DGM) 2, the case was heard at 10:40 a.m. Friday at Ankara's 11th High Criminal Court.
The court delegation included Chairman Orhan Karadeniz, members Ramazan Aksan and Kadir Kayan, and Chief Public Prosecutor Salim Demirci.
The term's State Security Court (DGM) Prosecutor Nuh Mete Yuksel had filed a legal action on 31 August 2000 with a 79-page indictment based on no concrete evidence and but on prejudicial interpretations.
Yuksel had first launched an investigation with a demand calling for Gülen's execution. As the prosecutor failed to attain any outcomes, he later requested 5-10 years imprisonment for Gülen, on the charge of "Establishing an illegal network with the aim of replacing the secular state with a state based on religious rules and conducting activities in this frame."
Lawyer Aksoy: A delayed ruling, Gülen was already innocent
Gülen's lawyer Aksoy pointed out the actions ascribed to his client did not constitute a crime even before the amendments.
"The court confirmed the actions ascribed to our client were not proved and did not constitute a crime and unanimously ruled for an acquittal. Besides, no case has been brought against our client. The case was unjustly opened, an unjust ruling of an adjournment was handed down and a verdict that can be a manifestation of justice has finally been given. This was a delayed verdict," Aksoy said. Upon the question, "Are you pleased with the decision?" Aksoy replied: "There is nothing to be pleased about. Our client was innocent. This has been a manifestation of justice, even though it is late." (By Metin Arslan, Ankara)
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