A European parliamentary deputy has requested a personal meeting with Hanefi Avcı, who is currently imprisoned while facing trial.
By Erisa Dautaj Şenerdam, 8.2.2011, www.hurriyetdailynews.com
A European parliamentary deputy has requested a personal meeting with ex-police chief Hanefi Avcı, who is currently imprisoned while facing trial in a case against an illegal leftist organization known as the Revolutionary Headquarters.
Deputy Marietje Schaake asked the Justice Ministry on Monday for permission to have a face-to-face meeting with Avcı through the former police chief's lawyer, Fidel Okan.
“I learned about the book Mr. Avcı wrote, and the discussion it led to in Turkey after he was arrested. As I don’t read Turkish and no English translation of the book exists, I wanted to hear Mr. Avcı’s story from him,” Schaake told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review in a written statement Tuesday, adding that it was uncommon for someone to be arrested after publishing a book.
Avcı published “‘Haliç’te Yaşayan Simonlar: Dün Devlet Bugün Cemaat” (‘Devotee’ Residents of Haliç: Yesterday State, Today Religious Community) last year, alleging that the religious Fethullah Gülen community had covertly taken control of the state.
Schaake is planning to visit Turkey on Feb. 25, during which time she will try to meet Avcı. “I am still awaiting permission and trust it will be granted,” she said, adding that she expected a response soon.
The deputy also said she had contacted Turkish authorities regarding the Avcı case. “I have made a formal request with the Turkish authorities and am awaiting their response.”
In her request filed by Okan, Schaake said she was coming to Turkey to discuss certain issues, adding that she would prepare a report to be presented to the European Parliament.
“The main objective of my client’s visit to Turkey is to meet with Hanefi Avcı, who is being kept under arrest for the Revolutionary Headquarters organization court case,” Okan said in his letter to the ministry, adding that Avcı was aware of the request and that the parties were waiting for a date to be fixed for the meeting, Anatolia news agency reported Monday.
Avcı was arrested after a Turkish court accepted an indictment against the outlawed Revolutionary Headquarters organization last Friday. The indictment, which charged Avcı with manipulating the judiciary and violating the confidentiality of an investigation, claimed that the former police chief aided the illegal leftist organization. Prosecutors have also demanded that he be sentenced to up to 49 years in prison.
The indictment also charged Avcı’s wife, Şenay Avcı, with possessing more than one gun for which the license had expired.
The former police chief was arrested following the book’s publication for his allegedly contacts with the Revolutionary Headquarters. Prior to the publication of the book, Avcı was known to be close to the Gülen community.
