ANKARA – The release of prisoner Hasan Yaküt, who is being held Antalya S-Type High Security Closed Prison, has been postponed for six months on the grounds that he has “no remorse”.
The release of Hasan Yaküt, a prisoner being held in Antalya S-Type High Security Closed Prison, was postponed for six months by the decision of the Administration and Observation Board (IGK). Antalya 8th High Criminal Court sentenced Yaküt to 11 years and 3 months in prison for “being a member of an illegal organisation”. Yaküt completed his sentence on 5 April. However, on 10 April, his release was postponed for 6 months by a board decision.
Yaküt, who had no disciplinary penalties against him, was released on the grounds that he did not regard the PKK as a "terrorist organisation" and "did not feel remorse". Yaküt's release will be re-evaluated on 15 October.
Yaküt sent a letter to the Parliamentary Group Deputy Chair of the Peoples' Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party Sezai Temelli regarding the blocking of his release. Temelli took Yaküt's case to the Parliament.
In the parliamentary motion demanding a response from Minister of Justice Yılmaz Tunç, it was stated that Yaküt was forced to express his thoughts. The motion also asked whether there was a concrete and legal justification for the postponement decision.