In the trial against the Kurdish activist Kenan Ayaz, the defendant was due to make his closing statement today, but the auditorium at Hamburg Higher Regional Court was full. The trial was adjourned until Thursday.
Fight against the public at Hamburg Higher Regional Court
The Higher Regional Court of Hamburg continues its fight against the public in the trial against Kurdish activist Kenan Ayaz. The auditorium was almost completely full today in anticipation of the defendant’s closing remarks. However, the judge interrupted the main hearing after just one and a half hours, even before Kenan Ayaz had had a chance to speak. The sole purpose of the interruption was apparently to allow the numerous listeners to go home disappointed. Right at the beginning of the hearing, the judge threatened to have the auditorium cleared. As the trial progressed, she repeatedly and loudly attacked the trial observers if they were not quiet as mice. The court was clearly trying to escalate the situation, but the spectators did not respond. Kenan Ayaz also seemed unimpressed. He looked relaxed, kept smiling at the audience and made the victory sign.
Session interrupted
The court took an application by the defence as a welcome reason to interrupt the trial. Kenan Ayaz’s lawyer Antonia von der Behrens filed a motion at the beginning of the trial in which she addressed the plea of the Attorney General and old decisions and explained why evidence still had to be taken with regard to the recognition of voices, translations and the examination of files. The court then requested a statement from the Federal Public Prosecutor General. The latter pointed out that the application could be decided in the judgement due to an expired deadline and did not consider a statement from the judge to be absolutely necessary. However, the court insisted and instead of giving the Attorney General the proposed two hours to comment, the presiding judge interrupted the hearing without further ado.
This action was clearly directed against the audience, who had obviously come in great anticipation of the last word. The large audience was a thorn in the side of the court from the outset. Ten years after the first judgement was passed in Hamburg against a Kurdish activist under Section 129b of the German Criminal Code (StGB), a quick and silent sentencing was now to take place without any real individual examination and without public attention.
Call for further trial support
However, the court had not reckoned with the Cypriot and German-Kurdish public. They were not willing to simply accept the harsh proceedings against a Kurdish man like Kenan Ayaz, who had been persecuted by the Turkish state since his youth. The auditorium was always full, sometimes even with large groups that could not all find room in the hall. Not only Kenan Ayaz’s defence lawyers regularly travelled from Cyprus, but also journalists, members of parliament and political activists. Apart from the occasional short burst of clapping – which is quite common in such proceedings – there were no disturbances from the spectators. And yet, from the outset, it was the audience against whom the presiding judge’s displeasure was directed.
‘It is obvious that Judge Wende-Spohrs has a massive problem with the public. She reacts aggressively and sometimes insultingly to every little movement from the audience. It seems as if she wants to stop people from watching the trial altogether. This makes it all the more important that we do not leave Kenan Ayaz alone during his trial statement before he disappears behind bars for years,’ said a representative of the #FreeKenan committee.
Continuation on 11 July
Kenan Ayaz’s final statement is expected to be very long and last several days; it is now scheduled to begin on Thursday, 11 July. Further scheduled dates are 17 July, 18 July, 22 July, 29 July and 19 August. The trial will take place on the first floor of the Higher Regional Court of Hamburg at Sievekingplatz 3, either in room 237 or 288. The hearings usually start at 9.30 am.
Postal address and donation account
The website kenanwatch.org provides information in Greek, English and German about the trial and the protests in Cyprus and Germany. Kenan Ayaz is happy to receive mail. Letters can also be written in languages other than Kurdish or Turkish, as translation is guaranteed. Please note the spelling of the authority’s name ‘Ayas’ so that the letters can be delivered.
Kenan Ayas
Hamburg remand centre
Holstenglacis 3
20355 Hamburg
Donation account:
Rote Hilfe e.V. OG Hamburg
Keyword: Free Kenan
IBAN: DE06200100200084610203