Uproar in the auditorium at the accused’s words in the Ankara Station massacre trial

The proceedings at Ankara Serious Crime Court No 4 in which 36 accused stand charged continued. Prior to the hearing, a brief scuffle was experienced at the entrance to the courtroom between the families and policemen who were taking security precautions. The argument, which erupted when the police were unwilling to admit some of the family members to the courtroom, was quelled with the intervention of court officials. The intervening party lawyers addressed the court before the proceedings commenced and complained about the police commander responsible for this and asked for it to be entered into the records.

When Hakan Şahin, accused of gathering intelligence in the Gaziantep area, uttered the words: “I, as a Muslim,” there was uproar in the auditorium.

HE REJECTED THE ACCUSATIONS AND CALLED FOR HIS RELEASE

At the hearing, the testimony was heard of Hakan Şahin, Yakup Şahin’s nephew. According the latter’s testimony heard yesterday, he met up with his nephew in Ankara and returned together with him to Gaziantep after the event. Hakan Şahin, rejecting the allegation that he came to Ankara three days before the explosion to conduct reconnaissance, said that he came to Ankara to get treatment for a chronic complaint involving his blood.

Şahin rejected accusations in witness statements that he had made ISIL propaganda and, as he continued with his testimony as follows: “Absolutely no citizen of the Republic of Turkey can be connected with an organisation from the way they pray. I, as a Muslim ...”, there was momentary uproar in the auditorium. There were shouts of, ”Are you a Muslim? You’ll burn in Hell. Demon of Hell” from the relatives of the deceased. In the course of the outburst, those shouting turned at one point to the place where the accused’s lawyers were accommodated. The people in the auditorium and intervening party lawyers vented their anger at one of the accused’s lawyers whom they accused of laughing. Despite being cautioned by the presiding judge, the shouting in the auditorium continued for a long time. During the fracas, gendarmerie team members also got to their feet and took measures. With the presiding judge repeatedly saying that those interfering with the defence would be expelled from the auditorium or it would be necessary to call a recess in the hearing, the intervening party lawyers intervened and obtained silence in the auditorium. Resuming his defence, Hakan Şahin rejected the accusations and said, “Taking account of my ill health and the time I have spent in remand, I call for my release and, if this is not possible, for release under bail conditions.”

The accused Şahin on being confronted with his previous statements under interrogation said with reference to points on which he had contradicted himself, “I made that up because I gave the statement under duress.”

The accused’s examination continues.