Aytaç Ünsal: Lawyer on death fast for 213 days released

Aytaç Ünsal, who has been fasting for 213 days, was released from Kanuni Sultan Süleyman Hospital in Istanbul in the evening after the Supreme Court decision.

The 16th Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court of Appeals decided to stop the execution until recovery in accordance with article 16/2 of Law No. 5275, since it was understood that the permanence of Ünsal, 32 years old, in prison conditions it would endanger his life, and that if he was not convicted or arrested for other crimes, he should write a letter to ensure his immediate release. .

Ünsal turned the hunger strike that began with the demand for a “fair trial” into a mortal fast.

Lawyer Ayşegül Çağatay said: “Aytaç Ünsal has been released. However, the language of the decision also suggests that the case may have been approved.”

Ünsal, who is quickly dead, has continued his protest for 213 days demanding a “fair trial”.

Some lawyers, members of the ÇHD and the People’s Law Office (HHB), were arrested in an operation in 2017.

Eighteen ÇHD members who were charged with “establishing and managing a terrorist organization” and “belonging to a terrorist organization” were sentenced to a total of 159 years in prison last year. “18 lawyers deny the accusations and want the opportunity to prove that their actions are not criminal,” says ÇHD.

Ünsal was sentenced to 10 years and 6 months in prison.

On February 5, some lawyers, including the president of the ÇHD, Selçuk Kozağaçlı, Ebru Timtik and Aytaç Ünsal, went on hunger strike. Timtik and Ünsal turned their hunger strike into a deadly fast on April 5.

Timtik recently died on a mortal fast.