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Stating that Prof. Dr. İştar Gözaydın being arrested without solid evidence and on grounds of some false denunciations was unacceptable, human rights organizations demanded Gözaydın's immediate release.

Making a statement regarding human rights advocate and the founder of Helsinki Citizens Assembly (hYd) Prof. Dr İştar Gözaydın being arrested, human rights organizations demanded that İştar be released immediately.

Prof. Dr. İştar Gözaydın was arrested on December 27. She is in Şakran Prison in İzmir.

Human Rights Association (İHD), Human Rights Agenda Association (İHGD), Association of Human Rights and Solidarity with the Oppressed (MAZLUMDER), Human Rights Foundation of Turkey (TİHV), Amnesty International Turkey Branch and hYd issued a written statement today.

Freedom and the right to a fair trial

In their statement, the organizations pointed out to Gözaydın's studies in human rights, noted that her arrest was unlawful and added;

"Even though the State of Emergency was declared following a coup attempt, it should not lead to renouncing fundamental rights and freedoms completely.

"Depriving a person of her/his rights without any solid evidence, only on grounds of some false denunciations is unacceptable. The arrest warrant for Gözaydın should be revoked immediately".

What had happened?

Gözaydın was detained from her house on December 20.

Prof. Dr. İştar Gözaydın was arrested on December 27.

Gözaydın's arrest was announced by her spouse İskender Savaşır on Twitter.

She was suspended on July 21 from Gediz University when she was the head of Sociology Department due to her posts criticizing capital punishment and violence.

State-run Anadolu Agency reported that Gözaydın has been arrested on charge of "being a member of an armed terror organization" as part of the "FETÖ/PDY (Fethullahist Terror Organization/Parallel State Structure) Investigation" launched into Gediz University from which she was suspended.

Of the 16 detained people within the scope of the investigation, eight people including Gözaydın were arrested whereas the other eight were released on probation, the AA added.

About İştar Gözaydın

Gözaydın (April 5, 1959 – İstanbul, Turkey) has studied at the New York University School of Law and Georgetown University International Law Institute, and holds an LLD degree from the Istanbul University.[2] Prof. Gözaydın also produces and presents program aired by Açık Radyo (Open Radyo), in Istanbul since 1995.

A professor of law and politics, she is also a founder of the Helsinki Citizens Assembly, a human rights organization in Turkey. She was a research fellow at the University of London, Birkbeck College Birkbeck, University of London in 2009 and she was a Fulbright Program scholar in the U.S. in 1986-87. (AS/DG)