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The court ordered a life sentence for Pınar Selek. Photo: Selek's Facebook Page |
By Baran Mavzer
PINAR SELEK, a French-based sociologist and a writer, previously accused of bombing the Istanbul Spice Bazaar in 1998, has been sentenced to life in prison in Turkey.
The final verdict was delivered on January 24, 2013. If she returns to Turkey, she will be arrested by the police.
During her nearly 15 year-long trial, she was acquitted three times. She now lives in Strasbourg.
First arrest
Selek's long journey with the Turkish Judicial System began on July 11, 1998, just two days after the explosions at the entrance of Istanbul's Spice Bazaar. The explosion killed seven and wounded approximately 100 people.
Despite suspicions regarding the cause of the explosion being caused by a PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) bombing, six investigative reports indicated that the explosion was not due to a bombing or terrorist attack.