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Academics Esra Mungan, Kıvanç Ersoy, and Muzaffer Kaya detained for reading the declaration reiterating their demand for peace on behalf of Academics for Peace/İstanbul group have been referred to court for arrest.

Academics Esra Mungan, Kıvanç Ersoy, and Muzaffer Kaya were brought to İstanbul Justice Palace in Çağlayan to testify at around 11 a.m. The interrogations started at 1 p.m. and ended at 3 p.m.

Lawyer Meriç Eyüboğlu made explanation to academics waiting their colleagues in front of the courthouse as to testimonies. Eyüboğlu said the testimonies weren’t taken by case’s prosecutor İrfan Fidan and no question was posed as to the declaration on March 10.

The lawyers announcing decision of Fidan at around 4:20 p.m., noted that the three academics have been referred to court for arrest upon prosecutor’s demand.

What had happened?

Warrant has been issued for four academics who held contact meeting on March 10 as to incidents taking place since they released the declaration entitled “We will not be a party to this crime”.

The academics Esra Mungan, Kıvanç Ersoy, Muzaffer Kaya and Meral Camcı stating in their declaration that actions are being taken for investigations without determining on which bases the charges are leaned upon, had said they were insistent on their peace demand.

The academics whose houses were visited by police officers yesterday (march 14) at around 9:30 a.m. couldn’t be seized as they were absent. The academics except Meral Camcı who is abroad went to İstanbul Security Directorate on Vatan street with their lawyers.

The academics being indicted for “promoting terror organization, acting upon instructions of the organization” were taken to the courthouse at 11 a.m. (BK/TK)