The never-ending process of Pınar Selek’s case

In July 1998, an explosion took place in the Spice Bazaar in Istanbul. Seven people, including a tourist and two children, died and 120 people were injured in the explosion. Although a terrorist attack investigation was launched after the incident, experts held the view that the explosion was caused by a gas leak in the cylinders. Despite this fact, the case of sociologist Pınar Selek, who has been accused of the explosion since 1998, still proceeds. On March 31, a new hearing of her case was held in Istanbul. The court decided to renew the red notice for Selek, which was issued in January this year. It was also decided that Selek’s statement would be taken by the French authorities. The trial is adjourned to the 29th of September.

The hearing was attended by French deputies, the deputy mayor of Strasbourg, deputies of the Republican People’s Party (CHP), the Workers’ Party of Turkey (TIP), and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), human rights defenders, and international delegations. According to the Evrensel newspaper, Akin Atalay, the lawyer of Selek stated that the same person cannot be tried twice for the same crime and that the case should be dismissed. The press release, which was intended to be made in front of the courthouse before the hearing, was intervened by the police due to the ban by the governor’s office.

Chronology of the Case of Pınar Selek

Two days after the explosion on July 9, 1998, sociologist Pınar Selek was arrested by the police of the anti-terror branch. However, her detention was not related to the explosion. Selek, who was detained for seven days on the instruction of the State Security Court, was not allowed to meet with her lawyers and relatives during this process. According to the forensic reports, her statement was taken with torture such as strappado and electric shocks. Selek had to state after seven days of severe torture. She was imprisoned by the judge, taking into account the statements she gave under torture.

In line with these statements, which have been taken under torture, a new lawsuit was filed against Selek. The two cases against the sociologist were combined in 1999. Selek ironically found out on television that she would be prosecuted for the explosion of the Spice Bazaar while she was in prison.

However, in the report filed by three experts in 2000, it was registered that the explosion was not a bomb, but a gas leak. Selek was first acquitted of all charges in 2006. After her first acquittal, lawsuits were opened several times on the same charges. Although Selek was acquitted four times, the court decisions were overturned each time. The last acquittal was overturned in 2022. Pınar Selek left the country in 2009 and has been living in France ever since.