The hearing concerning Zehra Kurtay’s asylum application took place today. The Court’s decision will be announced on Monday, January 19, in a week.
Many people mobilized to show their support, coming from across France and from abroad, including Paris and other cities. As the courtroom was not large enough, not everyone was able to enter. Outside the administrative court, the gathering was sizable, with flags, banners, and slogans being chanted, such as “Zehra Kurtay is our honor.”
Members of Parliament Thomas Portes and Arnaud Saint-Martin were present and spoke before the hearing to express their support for Zehra Kurtay and to warn about the serious consequences that an extradition to Turkey would entail.
During the hearing, the lawyer representing the State once again tried to portray Zehra Kurtay as a threat to France, arguing in favor of her extradition. The prosecution went as far as making particularly ridiculously shocking comparisons, even referring to the Bataclan attacks, implicitly suggesting that Zehra Kurtay represents a danger of a similar magnitude….
She was also accused, as a supposed act of repeat offending, of failing to report once to the gendarmerie during the eight years of her judicial supervision ordered in a previous ruling. This absence was directly linked to the death of her mother, an exceptional circumstance that was explained and documented by the defense.
In response, Zehra Kurtay’s lawyer highlighted the reality of massive human rights violations and the use of torture in Turkey. He notably cited the case of Ayten Öztürk, who was tortured for six months after being abducted and held in a secret detention center.
The defense emphasized that an extradition would expose Zehra Kurtay to a real risk of imprisonment, torture, and inhuman or degrading treatment.
The panel of judges was composed entirely of women. The presence of intelligence services was also noted around the gathering before and after the hearing.
After the hearing, some of the supporters gathered at the resistance tent, where they continued discussions and shared a moment of solidarity. The mobilization was marked by strong collective determination, visible solidarity, and a shared conviction in the necessity and legitimacy of Zehra Kurtay’s struggle.
Zehra Kurtay made a speech After the trial, expressed her sincere thanks to everyone who stood by her, in France and abroad, for their continued support. Nezif Eski also said some words after the court took place, to express the fact that waiting again a week to know the verdict, considering the emergency of the situation, 195 days of illimitate hunger strike, is not appropriate and shows the little consideration the french imperialist state has for Zehra.
Haklıyız kazanacağız!
Justice for Zehra Kurtay!
Subscribe to stay up-to-date
