Turkey: Appeal for the release of renowned forensic expert rejected

A Turkish court has rejected an appeal against the arrest of Sebnem Korur Fincanci, the head of Turkish Medical Association (TTB) who was jailed after her remarks regarding allegations of the use of chemical agents by the Turkish army against the Kurdish militants in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. 

 "We will follow the process closely and continue our struggle for the release of our president," the TTB said in a statement.

"Obviously, one of the toxic chemical gasses was used that directly affects the nervous system," Fincanci told Media Haber during a live broadcast last week, sharing her examinations on the basis of the reports allegedly showing the chemical warfare posted in social media. Fincanci also urged independent missions to investigate the incident within the scope of international treaties.

Following the interview, prosecutors in Ankara launched a probe into Fincanci on the grounds of “disseminating propaganda in favour of a terrorist organisation” and "insulting the Turkish nation, the state of the Republic of Turkey and its institutions,” resulting with her arrest. 

Meanwhile independent human rights experts appointed by the United Nations called on Tuesday for Turkey to to immediately release Fincancı and to stop using counter-terrorism legislation to intimidate human rights defenders.

“We have documented many cases where counter-terrorism legislation and other criminal provisions have been used to harass, arrest, detain and convict civil society actors in Türkiye, including Dr. Fincancı, on spurious grounds”, the experts said in a statement.