Lawyer Aytaç Ünsal was released on the 213th day of his hunger strike calling for a fair trial, one week after Ebru Timtik lost her life. Ünsal’s sentence was part of a mass operation against 18 lawyers, who were sentenced to over 150 years in prison overall.
Aytaç Ünsal, a lawyer accused of terrorism charges, was released on the 213th day of his hunger strike demanding a fair trial, Mesopotamia Agency reported on Sept. 3.
Ünsal had been sentenced to 10 years and six months in prison as part of a 2019 court ruling against 18 members of the Progressive Lawyers Association (ÇHD) and the People’s Law Bureau (HHB) that issued a total of 159 years in prison.
Ünsal and members of the ÇHD started a hunger strike on Feb. 5, which Ebru Timtik and Ünsal turned into a death fast on April 5.
Timtik lost her life on Aug. 27.
Turkey’s Court of Cassation ruled on Sept. 3 for Ünsal’s release, allowing him to leave Istanbul’s Kanuni Sultan Süleyman Hospital.
“This is thanks to the help all of you gave to me, thanks to you taking ownership [of my case],” Ünsal said as he was carried out of the hospital on a stretcher.
“I love you all so much. We will win.”
Ünsal was taken to a central Istanbul office of the HHB, where he spoke to the public on a balcony, echoing his message of love and triumph.
